HomeMy WebLinkAboutRadonContact: Dan Reisig, Senior Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-833-9537 • dreisig@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Radon Action Month Brings Return of $5 Test Kits
Edina, Minn., Dec. 30, 2021 – As the calendar turns to 2022, Edina residents are reminded of the importance of checking their homes for radon. As part of Radon Action Month, the City’s
Health Division is once again offering $5 test kits to residents.
Radon is an odorless and colorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. It can enter and build up in homes through unsealed areas such as cracks in the concrete
slab. The accumulation can reach dangerous levels, which is why testing is important.
“There is no safe level of radon. Testing the current radon level in your home is the first step toward figuring out what you need to do to keep your family safe. The Minnesota Department
of Health recommends testing your home every 2-5 years.” said Lee Renneke, Environmental Health Specialist.
Testing is easy and only takes three to seven days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but it can be done any time of year. Tests should be conducted in the lowest level
of the home that is frequently occupied.
Test kits can be obtained at the Edina Police Department, 4801 W. 50th St. Enter via the exterior Police door, which is to the right of the main City Hall doors, during business hours
of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Kits are also sold in home improvement stores and online for roughly $10-$15.
Residents should not rely on test results from neighbors’ homes. Even the house next door can have very different radon levels. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels
is to test.
If a home’s level is at or above 4 piC/L, owners should consider verification testing and having a radon mitigation system installed. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) keeps a
list of certified radon mitigation contractors at bit.ly/380R31s. More information about radon in Minnesota can be found by visiting health.state.mn.us/radon.
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 MDH website, more than 21,000
lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in the United States. To help raise awareness, the Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Awareness
Month.
For more information, contact Renneke at 952-826-0464 or LRenneke@EdinaMN.gov.
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