At the last District 1 Community Council meeting, several residents from the neighborhood expressed interest in Radon testing for their homes. According to the Minnesota Department of Health:
"Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, that means it continuously decays and releases radiation. It is produced from minerals in soil, such as uranium and radium. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless."
And why is Radon important? Once again, from the Minnesota Department of Health:
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that each year 21,000 people die of lung cancer as a result of being exposed to elevated levels of radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers."
Minnesota has one of the highest levels of Radon in the entire country. Add that our habit of keeping windows closed during the winter, and Radon is a severe risk for people living in homes in Minnesota. In some counties, up to one out of every three homes are at toxic levels.
The solution? For a few dollars you can pick up a Radon test at your local hardware store. If your house has toxic levels of Radon, there are ways to eliminate it from your home to keep your family safe.
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