The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. We can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in our home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in the U.S. and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. The EPA and the surgeon general urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon.

Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk, and testing radon levels in the home can help prevent unnecessary exposure. If a high radon level is detected in our home, we can take steps to fix the problem. Four things we can do during National Radon Action Month include:

• Test the home - Testing is easy and inexpensive.
• Attend a local National Radon Action Month event - Look for radon events in the community.
• Spread the word - Encourage family, friends and others to learn about radon and test their homes. Consider planning an event in your community to help raise awareness.
• Buy a radon-resistant home - Look for builders that practice radon-resistant construction techniques.

The mission of Connecticut Department of Public Health‘s radon program mission is to promote radon awareness, testing, mitigation and radon-resistant new construction throughout the state in order to reduce the number of radon-induced lung cancer deaths in Connecticut.

The state Department of Public Health recommends all homes be tested for radon.

For more information on the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s radon program, visit CT.gov/dph/radon or call 860-509-7367.

For more information about radon-resistant new construction, visit 3.EPA.gov and choose Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide to Build Radon-Resistant Homes.