n recognition of National Radon Action Month, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is encouraging residents to test their homes for radon by offering discounted radon test kits throughout January.
The kits, which typically cost between $12 and $40, are being made available at a reduced price to help Montanans assess radon levels in their homes and increase awareness of the health risks associated with long-term exposure.
Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that can seep into homes through small cracks in foundations, gaps around utility pipes and other openings. It forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and can accumulate indoors over time. Prolonged exposure to elevated radon levels increases the risk of lung cancer and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
“Montana’s geology makes our state prone to elevated radon levels,” said DEQ Air Quality Bureau Chief Bo Wilkins. “We encourage Montanans to test their homes every two to five years, and these discounted radon test kits for Radon Action Month are a reminder to make sure testing happens. Even if your home has previously tested below picocuries per liter, weather, ground disturbances and changes to your home have the potential to impact radon levels.”
If test results indicate elevated radon levels, DEQ can also provide information on next steps and mitigation options, Wilkins said.
The radon test kits are provided through the Montana DEQ Radon Control Program and are funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Kits are typically delivered within two weeks of being requested. DEQ recommends testing at the lowest occupied level of the home, after making structural changes, or when moving into a previously unused lower floor.
Once testing is complete, kits must be mailed to the laboratory within one week to ensure accurate results. Return postage and lab analysis are included, and test results are emailed to the requester after analysis.
The EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon levels at or above 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). In Montana, about half of the homes tested have radon levels at or above that action threshold. Elevated radon levels can be reduced through mitigation measures, with the cost of hiring a radon mitigation contractor typically starting at around $1,500, depending on the home.
DEQ officials say testing is the only way to know a home’s radon level and encourage Montanans to take advantage of the discounted kits during National Radon Action Month.
By DNU Staff