Michigan Declares January 2026 Radon Action Month
State officials urge residents to test homes during winter heating season, when indoor radon levels are typically highest.
By Stasia DeMarcoJan 07, 2026
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared January 2026 as Radon Action Month, urging residents to test their homes for the radioactive gas during the winter heating season, when indoor levels are typically highest.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It can enter buildings through cracks and openings in foundations and accumulate indoors at elevated levels. The gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and exposure does not cause immediate symptoms.
Long-term radon exposure is linked to lung cancer. It is considered the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Overall, radon exposure is estimated to cause about 20,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide each year.
Michigan officials estimate that approximately one in four homes in the state has radon levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air. Elevated radon concentrations have been identified in all 83 Michigan counties.
State environmental officials say Radon Action Month is designed to raise awareness of indoor air quality risks, promote routine testing, and encourage mitigation when elevated levels are detected. Testing is the only way to determine whether radon is present at unsafe levels, and test kits are widely available through local health departments.
Health officials recommend testing homes every two to five years, and every two years for homes with radon mitigation systems installed, to ensure systems remain effective.
While the campaign focuses on residential testing, environmental health experts note that radon can also pose risks in workplaces, schools, and other occupied buildings, particularly in lower-level or ground-contact spaces. Elevated radon levels can be reduced using established mitigation technologies.
As part of Radon Action Month, Michigan has expanded educational resources, including a multi-part podcast series on radon health effects, testing, and mitigation, and an interactive statewide map showing indoor radon test results.