Counties Offering Radon Test Kits

LOCAL HOME SHOW WILL BE OUTLET FOR RADON TEST KITS  AND DEMONSTRATION OF MITIGATION SYSTEMS

The Dunn, Pierce and Saint Croix Counties Public Health Departments will be selling radon test kits for $5.00 at the Saint Croix Valley Home Builders Association 2012 Home, Remodeling and Garden Show. The home show is March 23-24 at the Hudson Sports Center. Environmental Health Specialists will be on hand to discuss your individual radon concerns. These specialists are also experts in other environmental and housing issues, such as water contamination and testing, lead poisoning, mold and indoor air quality.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful at elevated levels. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reported that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem. The NAS concluded that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year, about one third of them preventable. Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. If discovered, radon problems can be fixed for costs similar to many common home repairs. There are now many local contractors who are state certified to perform radon mitigation activities.

Also on display at the home show will be an innovative way to build new homes that helps them naturally vent radon gas outside of the living space. This technology commonly referred to as Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC), will be demonstrated at the home show. RRNC can cut the radon levels in half, and if still at an unacceptable level, can be activated with an exhaust fan to lower the radon level even further. Activated systems may decrease moisture levels to help improve the indoor air quality of the home. 

For information on the home show, call the St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association at 715-796-5377 or email info@scvhba.com  Information on radon can be obtained from the Radon Information Center at 888-LOW RADON or at www.sccwi.us/environmentalhealth