About 1 in 3 Minnesota homes have potentially harmful levels of radon gas, the second leading cause of lung cancer in U.S.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and nearly one in three Minnesota homes contain potentially harmful levels of the tasteless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in rock and soils. The only way to know for sure if your home has it is to test for it, say Minnesota health officials, and January is an ideal time to do it.

“The start of a new year is a time when many of us do regular home maintenance tasks that can help protect our health and safety, such as replacing smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm batteries,” said Commissioner Sanne Magnan of the Minnesota Department of Health. “If you’ve never tested your home for radon before, now is the best time to do it. This time of year, our homes are generally closed up more tightly because of the weather, so we’re more likely to have a build-up of radon gas or to be exposed to it for extended periods of time.”

January is National Radon Action Month and communities across the nation have planned activities and special events to increase awareness of the health effects of radon exposure and to promote radon testing, mitigation and radon-resistant new construction.

MDH and Rep. Kim Norton of Rochester were recognized recently by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an initiative that will help to reduce radon levels in new homes. A new law passed in 2007 requires radon ventilation systems to be installed in all new homes built in Minnesota. However, new homes can still have elevated levels of radon, so MDH recommends that all homes be tested.

Radon is found at elevated levels in one in 15 homes across the U.S., but in Minnesota one in three homes have elevated radon levels. Major studies have indicated that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. A National Academy of Sciences report in February 1998 confirmed that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. A more recent EPA report released in June 2003 states that radon causes an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

“Despite these known risks, people tend to minimize the health effects of radon and ignore the possibility that it might exist at elevated levels in their homes because they can’t see it or smell it,” said Dale Dorschner, MDH indoor air unit supervisor.

Using simple and inexpensive kits, homeowners can test for the presence of radon in their homes and, if it is present, take steps to fix the problem. Radon test kits are available at city and county health departments, or directly from a laboratory http://mn.radon.com/. Most are priced under $20. Additional information on how to purchase a radon detector is available from MDH). Radon problems can be easily fixed by qualified contractors.

“Radon is a serious public health hazard, but it has a straightforward solution,” Dorschner said. “Test your home, and if necessary, take action to keep radon out. If you are building a new home, require that your builder use radon resistant techniques to help protect the long-term health and safety of your family.”

For more information on radon, radon testing, radon mitigation and building new homes that are radon resistant, call MDH at 651-201-4601 or 800-798-9050 or visit the MDH radon Web site http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/index.html.