NEW ULM — January is radon action month.

Brown County Public Health has a limited number of short term radon test kits at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis to homeowners in the Brown County area beginning Wednesday Jan. 5, 2022 during “Radon Action Month.”

A limited number of kits will be available at no charge at:

Brown County Public Health Office, 1117 Center Street, New Ulm;

Sleepy Eye City Office at 200 Main Street E Sleepy Eye;

Springfield City Office at 2 E Central Street Springfield.

Hardware stores may also stock test kits. Licensed professionals can also conduct testing. Both of these options would include a cost.

Brown County Public Health, the Minnesota Department of Health and the US Environmental Protection Agency urge everyone to test their home for radon, the invisible radioactive gas found at elevated levels in many Minnesota homes.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is to test.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in the United States.

Brown County is considered a county with a high concentration of radon in the soil. Over 75% of the homes tested have a radon level of > 4pCi/L which is considered a risk.

Fortunately, the risk is largely preventable through testing homes and fixing radon problems.

To help residents get a more accurate picture of radon levels in Minnesota, MDH launched a series of maps showing information – https://data.web.health.state.mn.us/web/mndata/radon

Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. Test devices are usually placed in the home for 2-5 days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but testing can be done year-round. With more people working and schooling from home, it’s even more important to test homes.

In homes found to have high radon levels, radon reduction typically involves installing a venting pipe and fan to pull the gas from under the home to the outside. This reduces the amount of radon in the home to low levels. Professionals conducting radon mitigation must be licensed by MDH, follow standards, and affix a MDH tag to the system. A list of currently licensed radon mitigation professionals can be found on the on the MDH website. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/radon/mitigation.html

MDH conducts free inspections of radon mitigation systems installed after June 1, 2020. The inspections ensure systems were installed correctly and meet minimum requirements. Contact the MDH Indoor Air Unit to request an inspection at health.indoorair@state.mn.us.

For additional questions about the radon maps, radon testing, radon mitigation, and licensure in Minnesota call Brown County Public Health at 507-233-6820 or MDH Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or 1-800-798-9050.