DPH offers free radon test kits in January

HARTFORD >> The Connecticut State Department of Public Health urges residents to test their homes for radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Health officials estimate that radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, according to a press release.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium and is found in rock, soil and water. Although radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings, the state DPH says.

Radon is an invisible gas that has no smell and people often don’t know when this silent killer is in their homes. That is why testing for radon and reducing elevated levels is so important.

The DPH Radon Program recommends that all Connecticut homes be tested for radon. Testing is recommended in the winter months. Residents may obtain a free radon test kit by completing an online form on the DPH Radon Program website. Test kits will be available only during January while supplies last.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says smokers exposed to radon have a much higher risk for developing lung cancer, the DPH says.

Radon problems can be corrected by qualified radon contractors, with costs typically ranging between $1,200 and $1,500.

To learn more, visit ct.gov/dph/radon.