Two in five Minnesota homes have high radon levels posing cancer risks
By the Minnesota Department of Health
More than 40% of Minnesota homes have dangerously high radon levels. That concerns health officials, because radon — an odorless, colorless radioactive gas — is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked.
Together with public health organizations across the country, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the American Cancer Society, A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation and the American Lung Association urge homeowners and renters alike to test their home for radon in January, during National Radon Action Month.
“The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to test, but only about 1% or 2% of Minnesota homes are tested annually,” said Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health. “Another concern is that, although radon occurs throughout the state, there are notable disparities in where the testing and mitigation are taking place.”
Interactive maps on the MDH website show that in the Twin Cities metro area, testing and mitigation are less frequent in communities with lower incomes and more renters. Statewide, they are lower in Minnesota’s northern and southwestern regions.
Minnesota has unusually high radon levels due to its unique geology and cold climate.
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