Free Radon Testing Kits From JeffCo Health Dept.

LAKEWOOD, CO – The colorless, odorless radioactive gas radon is found at high levels in almost half of homes tested in Colorado. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. In the United States, 22,000 people a year die from lung cancer caused from radon, the CDC says.

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) will be offering free radon test kits to Jefferson County residents, one per address and on a first come-first served basis, in Lakewood at 645 Parfet Street during the month of January, while supplies last.

The Jefferson County Board of Health, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, Cities of Lakewood, Golden, Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Edgewater and the Towns of Morrison and Mountain View have all either issued or plan to issue a proclamation recognizing January as National Radon Action Month.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked Colorado as a Zone 1 area, meaning the average house will exceed the EPA's action level for indoor radon, the agency said.

People are exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that enters homes and other buildings through cracks and gaps in foundations. While there is always some radon in the air, high levels of exposure to radon over time can lead to a significant risk of developing lung cancer, Jeffco Public Health said in a statement. The risk of lung cancer is even greater for smokers exposed to radon.

“We are grateful to the county, cities and towns around our area for helping us recognize the importance of radon testing and mitigation in Jefferson County,” said Mitchell Brown, Environmental Health Supervisor at Jefferson County Public Health. “We hope that, in part, because of their help we can help more people across the county assess and lessen their risk of radon exposure.”

In addition to providing the free test kits, JeffCo public health staff will be available to help homeowners understand how to use the test kits properly and what to do if the test results show high levels of radon in the air. If action is needed to reduce radon in a home, it's important to test homes for radon again to be sure the action worked and the air is safe.

For more information:

Contact Mitch Brown, JCPH Senior Environmental Health Specialist at 303-271-5767 or mlbrown@jeffco.us.

Helpful links:

• Jefferson County Public Health: Radon
• CDPHE: Testing and Mitigating Your Home for Radon (List of Professionals)
• CDPHE: Radon and Real Estate
• Environmental Protection Agency: Radon

Image via U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Stay up-to-date on Golden news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Free newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook