Health officials in Sheboygan are urging residents to make testing for a potentially deadly gas a New Year’s resolution.
Radon, a radioactive, naturally produced gas that comes from the ground, cannot be seen or smelled, making it a potential silent killer that can cause lung cancer after prolonged exposure.
The Sheboygan County Division of Public Health recommends testing for radon in heavily frequented places, such as homes, schools, and workplaces.
With radon being undetectable without tests, radon test kits serve as the only way to keep you and others safe from the harmful gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., behind smoking.
Radon test kits are inexpensive, accurate, and widely available online, at a local hardware store, or at your regional Radon Information Center.
While relatively cheap everywhere, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends first looking for kits at your regional center, as they can often be offered for free or at discounted rates.
In our area, the Manitowoc County Health Department serves as the regional Radon Information Center for Manitowoc, Brown, Door, Calumet, and Kewaunee Counties, and offers short-term test kits for $7 and long-term kits for $21.
More information on radon, its harmful effects, tips for testing, and how to understand your test results can be found online at dhs.wisconsin.gov.
