Stearns County offering free radon test kits to residents

40% of Minnesota homes have dangerous radon levels

Residents can get free radon testing kits through Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department. There are 200 test kits available. They will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

Test kits can be picked up at the Stearns County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility at 3601 5th Street South in Waite Park, which is open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Residents can simply go through the drive-thru at the HHW Facility to get their testing kit.

January is Radon Action Month, a good time for citizens to test their homes for radon gas. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soil and can seep up from the ground and enter homes through cracks and other openings in the walls or foundation. When inhaled, it gives off radioactive particles that can damage lungs and lead to lung cancer. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Fortunately, the risk is largely preventable.

Due to its unique geology and cold climate, the average radon level in Minnesota homes is more than three times higher than the national average. In fact, more than 40% of Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas. With doors and windows shut tightly in the winter, radon can build up. Despite the danger, only about 1% of Minnesota homes are tested each year, and every home should be tested. Since radon can’t be seen or smelled, the only way to know if a home has radon is to test, and testing is easy. If a high radon level is detected, steps can be taken to fix the problem.

For more information, or to inquire if Stearns County still has test kits available, call Environmental Services at (320) 656-3613.