Barry and Eaton County Radon Maps

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring colorless and odorless gas derived from the radioactive decay of the element radium. As radium disintegrates in bedrock and soils, it emits radioactive gas (radon) which permeates through the ground to the surface where it diffuses into the atmosphere. Outdoors it is diluted to levels that offer relatively no health risk. However, if there is a strong enough radium source nearby and it is allowed to enter the interior of a home through common entry points in the basement, crawlspace, or slab foundation; then it can accumulate to higher levels, posing an increased health risk to those exposed.

How is Radon a health risk?

Long term exposure to elevated radon levels increases a persons' risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer; in addition, if you're a past or present smoker, your risk of developing radon induced lung cancer is even greater. Radon is our nation's second leading cause of lung cancer, and is the leading cause among non-smokers. Radon exposure is estimated to be responsible for thousand of deaths each. Common entry points include: raw earth floors and crawlspaces, cracked or porous walls and floors, hollow cavities inside walls, floor and wall joints, floor drains, sump pits, annular spaces around piping, duct work, and wiring in walls and floors.

Should you be concerned about Radon?

The American Lung Association of Michigan projects that 12 percent of Michigan residents have potential radon problems. According to the Michigan Indoor Radon Residential Survey which was completed in May of 1988, it is estimated that as much as 10-35% of the homes in the Barry-Eaton District Health District have elevated radon levels above the EPA's recommended action level of 4 picoCuries/Liter (.02 working levels).

What can you do to determine if Radon exists in your home?

Since you cannot see, smell, or taste radon gas, the only way you can detect it is by testing. Two common types of in-home radon testing devices readily available through the Barry-Eaton District Health Department are Charcoal Canisters, for short-term screening measurements (4-7 days)@ 11.00/device and Alpha Track Detectors, for long-term follow-up measurements (90-365 days)@ $17.00/device. Both of these easy to use, passive devices are exposed to the air in a home for a specified period of time, then resealed and mailed to a testing laboratory for analysis.

What do I do if my home does have elevated levels of Radon?

If you’ve tested your home for radon and found elevated radon levels (levels greater than 4 picocuries per liter—4 pCi/l), and if you’ve confirmed those levels with a follow-up test, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recommends that you take action to reduce your exposure.

The most common technique for reducing exposure is to prevent or reduce radon entry. This can sometimes be achieved by caulking and sealing entry points such as the floor/wall joint; sump openings; cracks in the floor or walls; space around plumbing, wiring or ductwork; or openings at the top of a hollow block wall. Unfortunately, caulking and sealing is rarely adequate as a stand-alone reduction technique, though it does sometimes work when the radon levels are only marginally elevated.

To achieve guaranteed results; a trained contractor should be hired to install a radon mitigation (reduction) system. Almost any radon level, regardless of how high it is, can be brought down to below 4 pCi/l. The most common technique used in Michigan is active soil depressurization (ASD). This reduction method involves reducing the pressure under the house so radon isn’t being pushed in through openings in the foundation floor or walls.

What is the Barry-Eaton District Health Department doing about Radon?

The Barry-Eaton District Health Department along with other public health agencies is an active partner in the Radon Awareness Outreach Program. In addition to distributing radon test kits, our outreach services include Radon Education, interpreting and mapping the results of Radon sampling within the district and the distribution of other Radon Information materials.

For more information: