The testing occurred in homes across the state in January in response to National Radon Action Month. The testing found that approximately one in five of exceeded the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's recommended level.
The EPA estimates that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, and reports in Michigan estimate that more than 600 new lung cancer cases could be attributable to indoor radon each year.
Test kits are available from local health departments all across the state. The cost generally ranges from $5 to $15, including postage and lab fees. Kits are also available from some home improvement centers and hardware stores, but not all retail kits include postage and analysis, so citizens are urged to carefully read the packaging before making their purchase.
To find out more about radon, visit the Department of Environmental Quality's Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqradon