BISMARCK – During National Radon Action Month in January, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality reminds residents that cold weather months are a great time to test their homes for radon, a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Radon-related illness claims more than 21,000 lives in the United States annually. In North Dakota, 63% of homes have an elevated radon level above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Action Level of 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), according to NDDEQ. The EPA lists North Dakota as Zone 1, which means it has the highest potential for elevated radon levels. Because of this, the EPA and NDDEQ encourage North Dakotans to test their homes for radon and address any elevated levels.

“Radon is a cancer-causing, naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste, found throughout the soil in North Dakota,” said Justin Otto, Radon Program coordinator for NDDEQ. “Although radon harmlessly disperses in outdoor air at low levels, when trapped in buildings, it can be harmful, especially at high concentrations.”

Radon test kits are simple to use and come with easy-to-understand directions, Otto said. Environmental Quality is giving away a limited number of free radon test kits to N.D. residents. For a free radon test kit in the mail, visit deq.nd.gov/wm/radon. Kits will be mailed while supplies last. Test kits can also be purchased at most hardware stores, building supply stores and online.

“The good news is radon mitigation systems can manage high radon levels,” Otto said. By installing a mitigation system, homeowners can effectively lower the level of radon in their homes. These systems use many conventional building materials and require few specialized tools to install. These systems may be installed by a homeowner or a radon mitigation contractor. Once in place, a properly installed system will reduce radon gas and safely vent it to the outside.”

Contact NDDEQ for a list of radon mitigation contractors, information on how to test for radon, what radon results mean and how to address elevated radon levels.