Whereas, Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, moving upward through soil and rock and sometimes entering buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls; and,

Whereas, Exposure to elevated levels of radon is estimated to be the cause of more than 600 cases of lung cancer in Michigan each year, and the U.S. Surgeon General has issued a National Health Advisory about Radon; and,

Whereas, Nearly one in eight homes in Michigan has elevated radon levels and, in some counties, more than 45 percent of the homes have elevated radon levels; and,

Whereas, Any home may have elevated levels of radon, even if neighboring houses do not; and,

Whereas, Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive, and the risk of lung cancer can be significantly decreased by reducing the elevated levels of radon found in the home; and,

Whereas, The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Michigan’s local health departments are working to inform Michigan citizens about radon and what can be done to reduce radon exposure; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of October 15, 2006, as Radon Action Week in Michigan, and I encourage all citizens of our state to learn more about this environmental health threat and to test their homes for radon.