Detecting radon gas

A little softball shaped kit that you open up, place in your basement and forget about for several days could be what stands between you and unhealthy levels of radon exposure in your home.
Fortunately, Dakota County offers such kits up. For details and to obtain an order form, go to the Dakota County website: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/EnvironmentRoads/Health/Air/RadonTestKits.htm.
“You open the kit up and you set it up in your basement area and then you can leave it there for four to seven days,” says county Water Resources Educator Paula Liepold. “Just kind of put it there and forget it and then you go pick it up again and cap it up, and turn it back in to us.”
Minnesota ranks fourth among states with the highest levels of radon. Upper Midwest soil contains uranium, which contributes to high radon levels. Houses are also closed up for much of the year here, which can also increase radon levels that tend to concentrate in basements, elevating the risks of lung cancer.
The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that one-third of Minnesota homes have radon levels that, after years of exposure, could pose a significant health risk.
If radon is detected, there are many things that can be done to combat the problem, including deep-penetrating concrete sealers or block-wall or drain-tile suction, among other methods. In that case, contacting a private contractor would be your best bet for mitigating the risks.