Darien Health Department has free radon testing kits available this month (while supplies last) so that you can check whether radon gas is seeping from the ground into your home.
Sorry, the tape dispenser doesn’t come with the radon test kit. We’re showing it in this picture to illustrate the size of the test kit (about 3 inches in diameter, if that). Take the test kit, leave the tape.
Radon is the second-biggest cause of lung cancer in the United States (after smoking), and forms from decaying uranium naturally in the ground.
“Radon problems can be corrected by a qualified radon contractor, with costs typically ranging between $1,200 and $1,500,” according to the announcement (reprinted below). Lung cancer is considerably more expensive.
The time to test is now, while homes have less outside air going through them during the cold winter months.
At the bottom of this article is a 13-minute video about radon published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here’s an announcement from the Health Department, adapted from a state Public Health Department announcement:
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) urges Connecticut 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.
Radon is a radioactive gas formed from the decay of naturally occurring uranium. It is found in rock, soil and water. Radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, but it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings.
Radon is odorless and invisible, and people often don’t know this silent killer could be in their homes. That is why testing for radon and reducing elevated levels of this poisonous gas is so important. It could save the lives of you and your loved ones.
The DPH Radon Program recommends that all Connecticut homes be tested for radon. Testing is recommended in the winter months, when radon tends to build up indoors.
Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive. Connecticut residents may obtain a free radon test kit by completing an online form on the DPH Radon Program website.
FREE test kits are now available at the Darien Health Department office while supplies last.
Test kits can also be purchased from the American Lung Association of New England by calling 1-800- LUNG-USA or at your local hardware store.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homes with radon levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L be fixed. Homeowners should consider reducing their potential lung cancer risk by fixing homes with radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. Smokers exposed to radon have a much higher risk for developing lung cancer.
Radon problems can be corrected by a qualified radon contractor, with costs typically ranging between $1,200 and $1,500. A homeowner should hire a qualified radon mitigation (reduction) contractor to decrease airborne radon levels.
To learn more about radon and to obtain a list of qualified radon mitigation contractors, please visit the DPH Radon Program web site. The site also includes additional resources including a video that provides step-by-step instructions on how to test your home for radon.