Health & Fitness
Do You Know if Your Family is Being Exposed to Radon?
Find out what radon is, the risks associated with radon and how to test your home.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is tasteless, odorless, and colorless that comes from the decay of naturally occurring radium and uranium in soil. This gas can be drawn into the home through basements, crawl spaces and slabs. Older homes with stone foundations are especially at risk because the gas can be drawn into the home more easily. The U.S. Surgeon General warns that Radon exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer. In fact, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer following cigarette smoking.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 1 in 15 homes have radon levels above the acceptable level and that up to 21,000 deaths per year come from this radioactive gas. This is more than the amount of deaths from drunk driving, drowning and home fires combined. Could your home be at risk for high radon levels? If your living space is on the third floor or below, the EPA recommends that your home should be tested. Surveys by the State of Connecticut show that no areas in Connecticut are safe from radon exposure. Homes in New London County are in Zone 1, according to the EPA. This means that people living in New London County have the highest risk of radon being in their homes.
Currently, your local health department, Uncas Health District, is offering FREE radon kits to help discover whether your family is at risk. Testing is simple. After picking up the kit from your health department, the kits can be set up in your home in a matter of minutes on the lowest level of living space in your home. Each kit comes with an easy set of instructions and members of Uncas Health District are willing to help set up the kits should there be any questions or issues.
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Now is the best time to test your home for radon and start protecting yourself and your family. For more information on how to get your FREE kit, please contact Uncas Health District by calling (860) 823-1189 or emailing doh@uncashd.org. For more information on radon, visit http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html.
