Have you tested your home for radon?

Radon test kits available for purchase $5.00each.

Informational Meeting on Radon February 1, 2012.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.  Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.  Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.  Radon enters your home a number of different ways, through cracks and other holes in the foundation, construction joints, cavities in walls, gaps in suspended floors and service pipes and the water supply.  As a result, your home traps radon where it can build up, is breathed in, and causes lung cancer.  Nearly 1 out of 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated levels of radon.  It is estimated that the majority of homes in western Racine County have between 10-20 pCi/L of radon in the air.  It is recommended that homeowners fix their homes if radon levels are 4pCi/L or higher.  However, the Environmental Protection Agency believes that any radon exposure carries some risk-no level of radon is safe.  If you are interested in testing your home please contact the Western Racine County Health Department at (262)763-4939.  Test kits are available to purchase for $5.00 each, cash or check please.  Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.  There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home; however, the right system depends on the design of your home.  Lowering radon levels in your home requires special skills and technical knowledge, a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems should be contacted.  For radon information, Wisconsin zip code data, and contractor lists visit the Wisconsin Division of Health and Family Services radon web page on-line at www.lowradon.org.    

In addition, the Western Racine County Health Department is offering an informational meeting discussing the risks of radon, testing procedures and mitigation on February 1, 2012 at 6:00p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Aurora Wellness Center at 300 McCanna Parkway Burlington, WI 53105.  Paul Tellier from the Southeastern Wisconsin Radon Information Center will be in attendance to answer technical questions you may have.  Test kits will be made available to purchase for $5.00 each that evening, cash or check please.

If you would like to purchase a test kit or have any questions please contact

Megan Hoklas at Western Racine County Health Department at (262)763-4939.