County offering test kits at half price during National Radon Action Month

January is National Radon Action Month, and Oakland County Health Division encourages residents to purchase radon test kits for only $5 this month to test their homes for the potentially harmful gas. OCHD recommends testing homes for radon during the cooler months as windows and doors remain closed.

"Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, but it is preventable," said Leigh-Anne Stafford, Oakland County health officer. "We are offering radon test kits at half price to help Oakland County families protect themselves and their loved ones."

Radon test kits for homes are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield:

- North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 34E, Pontiac.

- South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield.

Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase more than 15 radon kits, please call 248-858-1312 to preorder. The Health Division offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15.

"You cannot see or smell radon," said Stafford. "Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure."

Radon is a naturally-occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. When the gas is trapped in a building or home, however, it can be a health hazard. The Environmental Protection Agency says there is moderate potential for elevated radon levels in Oakland County homes.

If high levels of radon are found, contact OCHD's Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 in Pontiac or 248-424-7191 in Southfield. Visit www.oakgov.com/health or www.epa.gov/radon for more information.

For up-to-date public health information, visit www.oakgov.com/health, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or call Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533.

Published: Mon, Jan 08, 2018