Date Published: 01/30/2020 [Source]
The Health Department is asking residents to check for an invisible, potentially cancer-causing gas that could be lurking in their homes. Free test kits are available from the health department while supplies last. Kits can also be purchased at a variety of retailers, including local hardware stores.
January is National Radon Action Month, and the Monroe Health Department encourages residents to test their homes for radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Health officials estimate that radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
Monroe Health Director Nancy Brault said in a news release that all Monroe homes should be tested for radon. "Testing is recommended in the winter months, and it is simple and inexpensive," said Brault in the 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homes found with high radon levels hire a qualified radon contractor to correct the problem.
To learn more about radon and to obtain a list of qualified radon mitigation contractors, visit the State Department of Public Health Radon Program web site at www.ct.gov/radon or contact the Monroe Health Department at 203-452-2818.