January is Radon Action Month in the state of Kansas and the City-Cowley Health Department is partnering with the Cowley County Extension Office to provide radon testing kits to homeowners free of charge.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground, where it can accumulate inside the home. Long term exposure to radon can be extremely hazardous to human health. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., responsible for around 21,000 deaths every year.
Since radon is both odorless and colorless, testing kits are the only reliable way to detect radon. “This is a great opportunity for homeowners,” said Tom Langer, the Health Department Administrator & Public Health Officer. “Radon is absolutely a silent killer and it’s integral for people to know if they’re being exposed so that they can take the steps to correct it.” Continue story below ad.
The testing kits are simple, easy-to-use, and only take a few days to complete. Each kit includes a mailer so that, once testing is complete, the homeowner can send it in to a lab for analysis. Results will typically be available with 5 business days.
The kits can be acquired from the Extension Office free of charge with a limit of 1 kit per household.
To learn more about this opportunity, contact the extension office at (620) 221-5450. For more information about radon and radon exposure, visit www.epa.gov/radon.