The City of Minneapolis is giving away 550 radon test kits to increase awareness of the cancer risks of radon and encourage people to test their homes for it. Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils and can enter homes primarily through cracks and openings in basement or foundation floors and walls.
Radon test kit giveaway
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31
Minneapolis Development Review, 250 S. Fourth St., Room 300
(one per household, while supplies last)
Free kits are also available immediately while supplies last through the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support. To get a free kit, contact Megan Curran de Nieto with CLEARCorps USA at 651-603-8000, Xou Xai Yang with Southeast Asian Community Council at 612-521-4859 or Rachelle Menanteau Peleska with Sustainable Resources Center at 612-872-3282.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the first cause among nonsmokers. More than 21,000 deaths are attributed to radon each year in the U.S. The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that one in three existing Minnesota homes has radon levels that pose a large health risk over many years of exposure. Radon exposure, however, is preventable, and radon problems in homes can be fixed. The first step is to test for radon at home, and the Minnesota Department of Health recommends that all homes in Minnesota be tested for radon. The test kits are easy to use, and postage and testing instructions are included in the kit.
The giveaway test kits are donated by the Minnesota Department of Health.
For more information on radon testing and mitigation visit the Minnesota Department of Health website or call at 651-201-4601 or 1-800-798-9050. Anyone interested in mitigating his or her home for radon should consult the Minnesota Department of Health’s list of certified radon mitigation contractors.
After the one-day giveaway, kits will be available for $9 at the City of Minneapolis Development Review, 250 S. Fourth St., Room 300. Minneapolis Development Review’s hours of operation are: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
