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, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause among non-smokers; and,

Whereas, Radon may result in more than 600 new lung cancers in Michigan each year, and more than one in eight Michigan homes may 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 American Lung Association of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are supporting efforts to encourage Americans to test their homes for radon, have elevated levels of radon reduced, and have new homes built with radon-resistant features; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim January 2007, as Radon Action Month 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.