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TEST YOUR HOME FOR RADON

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month and is encouraging local homeowners to test for this potentially deadly radio-active gas. The Quinnipiack Valley Health District supports the EPA’s efforts by encouraging testing of homes for radon.

Radon kits can be purchased for a low cost from the American Lung Association, 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872), or from big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. If you have never tested your home for radon, it is worth the nominal cost of a test kit to evaluate your home.

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. When emitted into the open air, radon is rendered virtually harmless. However, when it becomes trapped in an enclosed structure such as a house, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels. Prolonged exposure to a high level of radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in this country. The EPA estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 Americans to die from lung cancer each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

One out of every fifteen homes in the United States has an elevated level of radon.

Your neighbor’s house may not have a radon problem, but your house might. The only sure way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test for it. Testing is relatively simple and fixing a problem is usually no more expensive than some common home repairs. The Connecticut Department of Public Health provides a list of radon mitigation contractors on their website: www.ct.gov/dph/radon.

For more information on radon visit:

• National Radon Action Month on the EPA website.
• What is Radon? on the CT Dept of Public Health website.

Quinnipiack Valley Health District
1151 Hartford Turnpike
North Haven, CT 06473

Phone. (203) 248-4528
Fax. (203) 248-6671
E-Mail. info@qvhd.org