Montana Homes At Radon Risk: What You Should Know This January

Every day and every month seems to come with its own special designation. We all hear the fun ones like National Donut Day, and the serious ones like Cancer Prevention Month. Well, January in Montana carries a title you may not expect at all. It is National Radon Action Month. I will be honest, it is not something I would normally stop scrolling to read about, but curiosity got the best of me. After learning more, it feels like something every Montana homeowner should be aware of.

Radon is not something you can see, smell, or taste, which makes it especially concerning. It is a naturally occurring gas created as uranium breaks down in soil and rock. Uranium mining and geology are nothing new in Montana, and that geology plays a big role here. Radon can move up through the ground and seep into homes through tiny cracks in foundations, gaps around pipes, or other small openings. Once inside, it can build up over time without any obvious warning signs. Super scary!

Long-term exposure to radon has been linked to lung cancer and is considered the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Because of Montana’s underlying geology, many homes across the state are at a higher risk. In fact, about half of the homes tested in Montana show radon levels at or above the recommended action level. Even scarier!

To encourage awareness and testing, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is offering discounted radon test kits during January. You can find more information on the kits HERE.

If this is the first time hearing about this, like me, let this be the kick-off of your research. The state has some great resources and a web page HERE to answer more detailed questions.