Radon concentrations in Wisconsin. (Source: DHS)
Wisconsin homeowners are being urged to test for radon this month, now that colder winter weather has set in.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is the nation’s second leading cause of lung cancer. Jessica Maloney with the state Department of Health Services says it’s fairly simple to test for, with kits available at hardware stores or through local health departments.
The kits are placed in areas such as a basement or crawlspace for 48 hours, and then are sent to a lab for review. Up to 10 percent of homes in the state are believed to have airborne concentrations of the gas at levels that could have a negative impact on the health of residents.
If radon is detected, Maloney says it’s relatively simple fix by using a contractor to install specialized systems that can help mitigate the gas. The average cost of dealing with a radon problem is between $800 and $1,500.