HomeMy WebLinkAboutDec 21 2019 Radon Month1
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Kaylin Eidsness, Senior Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-833-9537 • Fax 952-826-0389 • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Discounted Radon Test Kits Available
Edina, Minn., Dec. 21, 2018 – In recognition of National Radon Action Month, the Edina Health Division
will offer residents radon test kits for $5, while supplies last.
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. Soil
under and around a home is porous. Radon gas is able to move through the porous soil and into the
basement through pathways, like cracks in the concrete slab, and accumulate in the house. It is this
accumulation of radon that can reach dangerous levels. Homes that are next door to each other can have
very different indoor radon levels, making a neighbor’s test result a poor predictor of radon risk in your
home. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to complete your own test.
Testing is easy and only takes three to seven days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but
testing can be done any time of year. Radon test kits are available at most hardware stores, and while supplies
last, the Edina Police Department is selling them for $5.
Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the leading cause of lung
cancer among non-smokers. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website, more than
21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in the United States. When breathed in, the
radioactive particles from radon gas can damage the cells that line the lung, increasing a person’s risk of
developing lung cancer.
“These radon test kits are super easy to use and cheaper than if you were to buy them in a hardware store,
where they typically cost $10 to $12,” said Lee Renneke, Edina Environmental Health Specialist. “Finding out
the current radon level in your home is the first step toward figuring out what you need to do to keep your
family safe and limit your exposure to radon.”
Renneke said tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied.
If a home’s level is at or above 4 piC/L, owners should consider verification testing and having a radon
mitigation system installed. Anyone interested in mitigating his or her home from radon should consult
MDH’s list of certified radon mitigation contractors at http://bit.ly/2h6VXTa. More information about radon in
Minnesota can be found at http://bit.ly/2rXAtMe.
For more information, contact Renneke at 952-826-0464 or LRenneke@EdinaMN.gov.
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