1/11/14 - The Livingston County Department of Public Health is urging residents to get their homes tested for radon gas during the month of January. Because people spend more time indoors during the winter months, January has been named Radon Action Month across the country to encourage people to test their homes for the dangerous gas. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas that produces no symptoms in the short-term. However, it is also radioactive and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon is produced by uranium in the soil and can enter buildings through cracks or sump openings in basements, where it can build up to dangerous levels. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality estimates that 40% of Livingston County homes contain elevated levels of radon. The health department is offering free short-term test kits through the 31st. The test kits can be picked up for free from the Department of Public Heath office on Grand River in Howell. They are also available for purchase at many hardware stores and other retailers. (TD)
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