Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking.  In homes where cigarette smoking occurs, the risks will significantly increase.  Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas, which leaks into homes through cracks or openings in basement walls, ground floors and crawl spaces.   Don Hayduk, Environmental Health Division Director states “Since Radon is odorless and colorless, the only way to know if you have a Radon problem is to test. Each home is unique. Just because your neighbor has a low level, does not mean you will have a low level of Radon in your home. Jackson County is considered a Zone 1 County, which means that average radon levels are expected to be above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended action level of 4.0 pCi/L (picoCuries per Liter). Take action now and test your home.”   Mr. Hayduk continues to state, “To help everyone test their homes for Radon, the Environmental Health Division of the Jackson County Health Department will be selling short term test kits at half price during the month of January.  The short term kit will test your home for 3-7 days providing you with your radon level at that specific point in time.” 

Short-term test kits are available for the reduced cost of $5 (normally $11) at the Jackson County Health Department Environmental Health Office during National Radon Action Month in January.  

There are also long term test kits that test the air for at least 3 months and up to a year. The long term kits provide you with an average radon level that you are exposed to in your home. These are now available online from the State of Michigan Healthy Homes Section at http://cgi.radon.com/sub/mi/  or in local hardware and home improvement stores. The Jackson County Health Department no longer stocks long term test kits.   

For more information, please call (517) 788-4433.   

Download, read and print a copy of the Jackson County Health Department Press Release.