Radon can be found all over the United States.  Radon comes from the natural (radio active) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe.

        Radon is a gas that typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in your home's foundation.  Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.  Any home may have a radon problem.  This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Risk of Living With Radon

            Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe.  As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy.  This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime.  Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer.  And the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.

  Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depends mostly on:

How much radon is in your home
The amount of time you spend in your home.
Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked.

Eaton County's Radon Potential

              There are three radon zones according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Eaton County is in zone 2.  Zone 2 has a moderate potential for radon levels above the 4 Pico curies guideline.  But that doesn't mean homes should not be tested for radon.  Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones.

How to Test For Radon

            Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.  The Barry/Eaton District Health Department has Radon Testing Kits for $10.  Contact the Environmental Health Division at (517) 541-2615.

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