HANCOCK – Winter in the U.P. means more time indoors, and tightly sealed homes to keep out the cold. The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) has a simple request for residents, take a few minutes this month to test your home for radon.
January is National Radon Action Month, making it the ideal time to check your indoor air quality. With windows closed and heating systems running, radon levels are more likely to build up indoors. Radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and there are no early warning signs of exposure. Long-term exposure to levels above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L increases the risk of lung cancer.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the ground. The geology of the Western U.P. is known to produce higher radon levels; in fact, about 10% of homes tested in our region have been found to exceed safe limits. Continuous exposure over many years can significantly increase health risks.
While radon levels tend to dissipate in the summer when windows are open and air moves freely, winter conditions can draw radon into homes through cracks in foundations, basement floors, crawl spaces, and around sump pumps.
A common misconception is that only older homes have radon problems. Any home can have elevated radon, regardless of age, foundation type, or energy efficiency. Because soil shifts, freezes, and thaws over time, new cracks can form, making it important to test every two years.
Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon level, and it’s quick and easy. Free radon test kits are available at all WUPHD offices. Residents can pick up a kit at the front desk in Hancock, L’Anse, Bessemer, or Ontonagon.
If high levels are detected, radon issues are highly fixable. Simple, effective venting systems can significantly reduce indoor radon. WUPHD can help guide residents on next steps. For more information, please visit www.wuphd.org, www.Michigan.gov/Radon, or call (906) 482-7382.