BHSJ CHA Encourages Radon Testing and Offers Free Test Kits

Monday January 6, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BHSJ CHA Encourages Radon Testing and Offers Free Test Kits

Coldwater, MI – January is Radon Action Month.The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants to remind residents that free testing kits are available at each of our offices.

“We encourage residents to test their homes for radon. Elevated indoor radon levels are frequently found in the tri-county area due to our soil types. Testing is the only way to find out if your home has an elevated radon level. The testing kit is simple to use and yields the most accurate results when windows and doors are shut, so that the air being tested is a better representation of what you and your family are breathing on a daily basis,” says Joe Frazier, Director of Environmental Health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the action level for radon is 4 pCi/L. According to Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), more than 25% of tests reported in the tri-county region exceed the EPA action level. Radon can be found in new and older homes, as it seeps in through openings in the foundation. Testing is recommended every two to five years because homes settle, new cracks form in the foundation and radon levels can change.  

Radon is an odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, and there are no short-term side effects. Radon gas is not harmful to people in the outdoor atmosphere, but when radon gas gets trapped in our homes, the contact, over time, may lead to lung cancer. According to the Surgeon General, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the leading cause among non-smokers.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is committed to promoting wellness, preventing disease, providing health care, and protecting the environment. For more information, contact your local office, visit www.bhsj.org, follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BHSJCHA, Instagram www.instagram.com/bhsj_healthagency, or YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@bhsjcha.