Date Published: 01/15/2020 [Source]
It's odorless, colorless and tasteless, and at elevated levels, radon gas can have potentially harmful consequences.
Because radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, the Naugatuck Valley Health District is doing its part to educate homeowners on how to stay safe. January is National Radon Action Month, and the NVHD is leading the charge to help Valley residents understand what radon is and how to test their homes. To make it easier, the NVHD will be handing out free radon testing kits this month.
According to a press release from the NVHD, 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, the odorless, colorless and tasteless gas can enter homes, becoming a health hazard. There is definitive evidence that exposure to high levels of residential radon over a long period of time can damage the lungs and lead to lung cancer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S.
The EPA recommends that homes with radon levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L, or picocuries per liter of air, be fixed. A list of qualified radon mitigation contractors can be found on the state Dept. of Health's website at www.ct.gov/dph/radon.
NVHD Health Educator Jamie Luckhardt urged residents who get a free kit to follow through with the 72-hour short-term test and then mail it in for their results, free of charge. Luckhardt personally follows up with any resident whose results come back between 2 and 4 pCi/L.