Minnesota Radon Awareness Month Details on KDHL

The Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division Indoor Air Supervisor Daniel Tranter will be on AM Minnesota 9:30 this morning.  Tranter is the state's foremost authority on Radon and one of the nation's most sought after people to discuss the topic.

For the last several years he has been with us in studio and for many years was a phone guest on the KDHL program.  Every January we try to educate people about the colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil.

The gas can accumulate in the air we breathe.  Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive.  When inhaled these fine particles can damage the lungs.  Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, "It is estimated that 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer due to radon exposure.  A radon test is the only way to know how much radon is in your home.  Radon can be reduced with a mitigation system."

The Department of Health also states, "Any radon level poses some health risk."  However they also state it is "not possible to reduce radon to zero."

The average radon level in Minnesota is more than 3 times greater than the average U.S. radon level.

A representative of Rice County Public Health will also join us this morning.  I hope you can tune in.  If it doesn't work the audio will be on this page before the end of the day for you to listen at a time more convenient for you.