ESCANABA — Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties will provide free radon test kits (normally $16) for residents of Delta and Menominee counties for the month of January, in order to encourage residents to test their homes for the radioactive gas. Tests kits can be picked up at both the Delta County office (2920 College Ave, Escanaba) and the Menominee County office (909 Tenth Ave, Menominee). One test kit per household is available in both Delta and Menominee counties. Household address must be given for each kit when picked up.

January is National Radon Awareness Month. Radon is a tasteless, odorless and colorless radioactive gas that is naturally occurring in soil or rock. Radon gas, if present where a home was built, may be able to seep into the home and cause long term health issues. It will quickly be diluted to safe levels when it reaches the atmosphere, but if it is able to enter homes through openings in the foundation floor or walls, it can build up to unhealthy and unsafe levels.

The test kits are hung in the lowest livable floor of the home over 3-7 days, to collect radon particles in the air. After 3-7 days, the kit is sealed and mailed in a provided envelope. If unsafe levels of radon are found, residents can then take a proactive approach to mitigate the gas and bring levels to a safe concentration.