Test for Radon This Month, Department of Public Health Reminds Residents

In recognition of National Radon Action Month which takes place in January, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) urges Connecticut residents to test their homes for radon gas, the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. However, experts say smokers exposed to radon do have a much higher risk for developing lung cancer.

A naturally occurring, radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium, radon is found in rock, soil, and water. While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil or from well water and become an indoor air health hazard.

“Radon is a silent killer.  It is tasteless, odorless, and cannot be seen, leaving people unaware that it could be in their homes.  Testing indoor air for radon and reducing elevated levels is important and could save your life or the lives of your loved ones,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.

The DPH Radon Program recommends that Connecticut residents test the air in their homes every two years. Testing homes for radon is recommended during the winter months and is simple and inexpensive. To support radon awareness, in 2024, DPH provided approximately 2,780 free radon test kits to 36 local health department partners for distribution.

You can go to www.ct.gov/radon to view a map of local health partners and to contact them directly to determine your eligibility. Test kits can also be purchased from local home improvement or hardware stores or online from the American Lung Association by visiting their Radon Test Kit Store. 

 The EPA suggests fixing your home if it has high levels of radon gas (4.0 pCi/L or higher) to reduce the risk of lung cancer. If your home has medium levels of radon gas (between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L), you might want to fix this problem to lower your chance of getting lung cancer.  Mitigation is easy, effective, and can be relatively inexpensive, officials point out. Radon levels can be reduced by hiring nationally certified radon mitigation professionals.  For a list of nationally certified radon mitigation specialists or to learn more about radon, go to www.ct.gov/RadonPros.