The American Lung Association, the Duluth Healthy Homes Partnership and the Minnesota Department of Health is urging homeowners and renters to test their homes for radon.

Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible naturally occurring radioactive gas that can be found in Northland homes, particularly in Minnesota. Radon kills more than 21,000 people in the U.S. each year, with long exposure leading to lung cancer according to the American Lung Association.

January is Radon Awareness Month, and a limited number of free radon test kits are available at the following locations in Duluth:

  • American Lung Association, 424 W. Superior St.
  • Caring Ways Cancer Resource Center, Essentia Health First Street Building, 420 E. First St.
  • One Roof Housing, 12 E. Fourth St.
  • Ecolibrium3, 2304 W. Superior St.
  • Marshall Hardware, 4415 E. Superior St.
  • American Red Cross, 2524 Maple Grove Road

I made sure to check my house for radon when I bought it over last summer just to be on the safe side. The state Health Department estimates two out of every five Minnesota homes have unsafe levels of radon. Check out the explanation video below on an at home radon test kit and remember a new test is recommended after five years.

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