$5 radon test kits for sale at Sharon Township Hall in January

Did you know that Washtenaw is in the highest zone for potential radon? And of all of the parts of the county, that Manchester-area residences have the highest average radon levels?

submitted by Washtenaw County Health Department 

January is National Radon Action Month, and the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) is encouraging residents to test their homes for this harmful gas. Radon test kits are $5 instead of $15 through the end of January at Sharon Township Hall, open from 9am to noon on Thursdays, located at 18010 Pleasant Lake Rd, as well as the WCHD’s Environmental Health Division and other local municipal offices.

Due to the geology in this area, it is common to see high levels of radon in Washtenaw County homes. Radon is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless radioactive gas found in nearly all types of soil and rock. It can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, crawl spaces, hollow-block walls, floor/wall joints, and openings around floor drains and sump pumps. When radon becomes trapped inside homes and other buildings, it can build up to unsafe levels.

Exposure to radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in the United States. While exposure to high levels of radon over time can be dangerous, short-term exposure to radon gas is not an immediate threat like carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Every home in Washtenaw County should be tested for radon, and homes with high levels should be fixed,” says Kristen Schweighoefer, MPH, RS, environmental health director. “You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, and it doesn’t cause warning signs like headaches or nausea. The only way to know if your home has high levels is to test.”

Winter is the best time to test, because homes are closed tight, and people are spending more time indoors. Testing during this time gives us the best indication of risk.

Pick up a radon test kit at one of the following locations. Check with the location for any test kit cost or credit card fee. Note that many municipal offices will be closed Monday, January 19, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Other than Sharon Township Hall (open from 9am to noon on Thursdays), locations include:

• Salem Township Hall — Open from 9am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Located at 9600 Six Mile Rd, Salem, MI 48175.
• Superior Township Hall — Open from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. Located at 3040 N Prospect Rd, Superior Township, MI 48198.
• Ypsilanti City Clerk’s Office — Open from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. Located in Ypsilanti City Hall at 1 S Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
• Ypsilanti Township Treasurer’s Office — Open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday (closed for lunch from noon to 1pm daily). Located in the Tilden R. Stumbo Civic Center at 7200 S Huron River Dr, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
• Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division — Open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday (closed for lunch from noon to 1pm daily). Located in the Western County Service Center at 705 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

Test kits are also available at local hardware stores and home improvement centers.

Homes should be tested for radon every 2–5 years since new cracks can form in the foundation and radon levels can change. In addition, if a home has a radon mitigation system, testing every two years is recommended to ensure the system is functioning properly.

Although no level of radon is considered safe, the EPA recommends taking action to fix a home when radon levels are above 4.0 pCi/L. If a home does have elevated levels of radon, a qualified professional can install a system to lower the indoor radon levels. Depending on the home and contractor, a typical radon mitigation system costs from $1,000 to $2,000.

For more information, visit washtenaw.org/radon.

The Washtenaw County Health Department promotes health and works to prevent disease and injury in our community. Our mission is to assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.