Originally posted December 26, 2025 - Margaret Henderson
Michigan Governor Proclaims Radon Action Month in January 2026
January 2026: Radon Action Month
Announcement: January 01, 2026
WHEREAS, radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that occurs because of the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It sometimes enters homes through openings in the foundation floor or walls; and,
WHEREAS, long-term exposure to elevated levels of radon indoors is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer amount nonsmokers and is responsible for more than 21,000 deaths each year; and,
WHEREAS, approximately 1 in 4 homes in Michigan has elevated radon levels at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L); and any home, regardless of age, foundation type, or location, may have elevated levels of radon even if nearby homes do not; and,
WHEREAS, testing for radon is easy and inexpensive, and the risk of developing lung cancer can be significantly decreased by reducing radon levels indoors; and,
WHEREAS, many homes across our state have never been tested due to limited financial resources to perform a test or to take corrective actions to reduce radon exposure; and,
WHEREAS, all homes should be retested every 2 to 5 years to ensure radon levels are below 4 pCi/L; and,
WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and Michigan’s local health departments encourage homeowners to test their homes for radon, take steps to reduce elevated radon levels, build new homes with radon-resistant features, and visit www.michigan.gov/radon for additional radon action information;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim January 2026 as Radon Action Month in Michigan.
United States