January is National Radon Action Month, and though the month is coming to a close, Freeborn County Public Health urges people to get their homes tested for the gas.

Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, according to a press release. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in the U.S.

The risk is largely preventable by testing homes and fixing radon problems. About two in five Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas and state health officials say every home should be tested. According to Air Check Incorporated, the national average indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L. In Freeborn county that average is 9.2 pCi/L.

Radon is an odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. It can enter into all kinds of homes through cracks or openings in walls or foundations. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is to test, according to a press release.

Testing takes three to five days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but testing can be done year-round, Freeborn County Public Health said. Test kits are available at Freeborn County Public Health at no charge for Freeborn County homeowners. Kits can also be found at many hardware stores or directly from radon testing laboratories.

Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. If a home’s level is at or above 4 piC/L, verification testing and having a radon mitigation system installed should be considered, according to a press release.

The Minnesota Radon Awareness Act that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2014, now requires disclosure and information be provided to buyers about radon during Minnesota home sales. The law requires sellers to inform buyers whether a home has been tested for radon and if so, what the levels are and whether the home has been mitigated for radon. In addition, sellers must provide a warning statement and a two-page publication to the buyer. Radon tests can be incorporated into a home inspection. The law does not require radon testing or mitigation.

Freeborn County Public Health can be reached at 507-377-5100, and is located at the government center at 411 S. Broadway.