(from news release)
Residents can get free radon testing kits through Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department. There are 200 test kits available. They will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.
Test kits can be picked up at the Stearns County Household Hazardous Waste facility at 3601 Fifth St. S. in Waite Park, which is open from 7 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Residents can simply go through the drive-thru at the HHW facility to get their testing kits.
January is “Radon Action Month,” a good time for people to test their homes for radon gas. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soil and can seep up from the ground and enter homes through cracks and other openings in the walls or foundation. When inhaled, it gives off radioactive particles that can damage lungs and lead to lung cancer. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Fortunately, the risk is largely preventable.
Due to its unique geology and cold climate, the average radon level in Minnesota homes is more than three times higher than the national average. In fact, more than 40 percent of Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas. With doors and windows shut tightly in the winter, radon can build up. Despite the danger, only about 1 percent of Minnesota homes are tested each year, and every home should be tested. Since radon can’t be seen or smelled, the only way to know if a home has radon is to test, and testing is easy. If a high radon level is detected, steps can be taken to fix the problem.
For more information or to inquire if Stearns County still has test kits available, contact Environmental Services at 320-656-3613.
This is an example of a radon-test kit for home use. This particular one is available at Home Depot for under $10.
