Two In Five Minnesota Homes Have High Radon Levels

Have you heard of radon gas? It's an invisible, odorless gas that's found in homes across the country. If you live in Minnesota, you're three times as likely to have it in your home than the rest of the country. Depending on where you live in the state it could even be higher.

What is radon?

The Minnesota Department of Health website defines radon as a gas produced from the natural decay of uranium and radium in rocks and soil. The gas eventually makes its way up from the soil and can enter your home. If it accumulates in the air in your home at a high enough level, it can harm your lungs and can cause lung cancer.

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Serious Public Health Concern In Minnesota

Minnesota's geology is favorable for radon gas. Especially in counties in Northeastern and Southeastern Minnesota. In some cases, 72% of homes have higher than recommended radon levels.

Minnesota Climate Adds To The Risk

Minnesota has long winters and short summers, meaning most of the year the homes are closed up and radon gas can accumulate quickly.

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You can easily test for radon in your home.

You can buy a radon test kit from anywhere pretty cheap. You can also hire a professional radon mitigation company to come in and test your home. A level above 4.0 pCi/L is considered high by the EPA and should be addressed.

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Radon Mitigation Systems

The way to mitigate radon is to have a professional install a sub-slab depressurization system. A fan will draw the gas from beneath the house and then vent it up through a pipe through your roof.

All homes should be tested.

Even if your neighbor has low radon levels, that doesn't mean you won't. High radon levels can be found in any style of home, age, or location.

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To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh