January is Radon Action Month

NORWICH - The Uncas Health District is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Connecticut Department of Public Health and The American Lung Association of Connecticut in a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to protect their homes and families. The Uncas Health District is providing free test kits to the first 25 residents of Bozrah, Montville, Norwich, and Sprague to contact the Norwich office during National Radon Action Month in January.  In addition, educational information and coupons for additional test kits will also be available

Radon is present at elevated levels in about one out of three CT homes. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but which can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. Scientists have long been concerned about the health risk of radon, but never before has there been such overwhelming proof that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. “However,” says Patrick McCormack of the Uncas Health District  “because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to downplay the health effects and ignore the possibility that there might be a silent killer in their homes.”

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. Radon test kits can be purchased from the American Lung Association of CT for $12. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $800 to about $2,500).

The Uncas Health District urges residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for radon. Radon poses a serious threat to our community’s health but there is a straightforward solution.

For more information on radon, radon testing and mitigation, and radon-resistant new construction, call the Uncas Health District at 860-823-1189 or or visit EPA’s website.