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Protect yourself from radon found in soils and rocks. Minnesota soils are rich with uranium due to past glacial deposition about 10,000 years ago. The arrowhead of Minnesota tends to be less of a radon threat area because the iron ore in the soils acts as a cap, or lid, to prevent radon from diffusing from the soil. Radon is a radioactive gas. It is formed by the natBY KARIN HAUGRUD ural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil and Columnist water. Naturally existing, low levels of uranium occur widely in Earth’s crust. If there was something you could do to prevent the Radon is colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemsecond leading cause of lung cancer, would you do it? ically inert. Once produced, radon moves through Performing a radon test is easy, inexpensive, and the ground to the air above. It can be found in all 50 can be done privately. This simple test can tell you if states. Unless you test for it, there is no way of telling you have elevated radon levels in your home. how much is present. On Jan. 13, 2005 the Surgeon General of the U.S., How does radon get into a building? Most radon Dr. Richard Carmona, issued a health advisory warn- enters a building from the soil or rock beneath it. ing Americans about the health risk from exposure Radon and other gases rise through the soil and get to radon in indoor air. The nation’s chief physician trapped under the building. The trapped gases build urged Americans to test their homes to find out how up pressure. Air pressure inside homes is usually much radon they might be breathing. lower than the pressure in the soil; therefore, the Why is radon a common problem in Minnesota higher pressure under the building forces gases homes? Much of the soil in the Upper Midwest con- through cracks and openings in floors and walls into tains widespread uranium and radium. These min- the building. erals continuously break down to release radon gas; Every home is unique due to its local soil, contherefore, Minnesota’s geology provides an ongoing struction details, maintenance and degree of depressupply of radon. surization. For this reason, test results from nearby A study conducted by the Minnesota State Univer- homes cannot be relied upon to predict the radon sity-Mankato discovered radon is a cancer-causing, level in another home. radioactive gas commonly found in various concenIt is recommended that all Minnesota homeowners trations throughout the Midwest, especially in the test their homes for radon. The results of a properly south-central Minnesota area. performed radon test will help homeowners deterRadon is a product of the breakdown of uranium mine for themselves if they need to take further
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action to protect their family from the health risks of radon in the home. A simple test can tell you if you have elevated radon levels in your home. Do-it-yourself, short-term (3-7 day) radon test kits are sold at hardware stores and local public health offices. This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® One Stop Shop at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp. info. MinnesotaHelp.info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help.
