Free radon kits available for residents

KILLINGWORTH >> A limited number of free radon test kits are still available from the Killingworth Health Department. Residents are encouraged to test their homes during the colder months when doors and windows are kept closed, according to a press release.

January is National Radon Action Month.

Taxpayers may visit the department in Town Hall to obtain a test kit, which includes instructions.

The state Department of Public Health offers some facts about radon:

• You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home.

• Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the decay of naturally occurring radium and uranium in the earth.

• Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year.

Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk and testing radon levels in your home can help reduce unnecessary exposure. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family, typically at a cost ranging from $1,200 to $1,500.

Details may be found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency web site at epa.gov/radon or the state Department of Public Health site at ct.gov/dph/ radon.

For information, contact the Killingworth Health Department at 860-6631765, Ext. 223.

FILE PHOTO Radon, a radioactive gas, can be detected by using a free test kit available to Killingworth taxpayers.