January is National Radon Action Month, and University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Nevada Radon Education Program is once again offering free short-term radon test kits to Nevadans, Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, while supplies last. Kits are available statewide at Extension offices and partner locations. Since the program began in 2007, more than 32,000 homes have been tested in Nevada.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It can accumulate in homes, increasing the risk of lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates radon exposure causes 21,000 deaths annually, making it the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. In Nevada, nearly 26% of homes tested have radon levels at or above the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The World Health Organization recommends mitigation at even lower levels, as low as 2.7 pCi/L.
“This risk is 100% preventable through testing and mitigation,” said Chris Kelly, program manager for the Nevada Radon Education Program. “Lung cancer claims more lives each year than any other cancer, affecting more women than breast cancer. Testing your home for radon is a simple, critical step to protect your family’s health.”…