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Cancer-causing Radon tests available in MN
A cancer-causing element known as radon can be found at high levels in about 40% of Minnesota homes. Free tests are available now.
(FOX 9) - A cancer-causing chemical element is secretly lurking in a lot of Minnesota homes.
Cancer-causing hidden hazard
What we know:
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and it’s widespread here because of the state’s geology and climate, with 21,000 Americans dying every year from lung cancer caused by exposure to it.
They almost always find out only after a severe cough shows up, seemingly out of nowhere.
"So this would be someone who is not screened for lung cancer because they never smoked," said Dr. Andrew Stiehm, a pulmonary physician for Allina Health. "And unfortunately, they're usually going to present us with a later stage lung cancer."
Prevention procedure
Dig deeper:
Stiehm says it’s preventable, but you have to vigilantly monitor your home for radon.
"Radon comes into cracks, gaps and openings in the foundation, like this crack we see here," said Daniel Tranter, a supervisor with the Indoor Air Unit of the Minnesota Department of Health.
Radon is above safe thresholds in about 40% of Minnesota homes, way above the national average of 7%.
It seeps through the soil and into homes, and it’s unpredictable.
Tranter says it’s more commonly problematic in southern and western Minnesota, but it can be bad in one basement and almost absent in the next.
Straightforward testing
Why you should care:
The only way to know is by testing. A basic test you get at a hardware store is simple to use.
You leave it in your home - usually the basement - for a couple days, ship it off to a lab, and get results.
Readings above 4 are considered dangerous, but anything above 2 may require mitigation.
"If we were at about 3.7-3.8 down here [in a basement] and you were going to make this into a bedroom and spend a lot of time down here, it might make sense to still fix it," Tranter said.
The fix consists mostly of a PVC pipe and a fan.
They make sure a good portion of the radon in your soil stays outside of your home.
The cost of the fix can run up to $3,000, so it’s among the reasons only about 1% of Minnesotans are testing for radon.
But Dr. Stiehm says it’s better to know.
"I'd rather mitigate radon problems before it creates a cancer than treat your cancer afterward," he said.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends testing your home for radon every two to five years.
Test kits available
What's next:
January is Radon Action Month, so the city of Minneapolis is giving away tests.
In other cities, you can get a cheap test through the state here.