Free Radon Testing Kit From Department of Health

From the Middletown Department of HealthVersion

The United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has designated January as National Radon Action Month and is encouraging homeowners to test for this potentially deadly radio-active gas. The city’s health department is supporting the EPA’s efforts by offering a limited number of radon test kits free-of-charge to Middletown residents during the month of January.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. When emitted into the open air, radon is rendered virtually harmless. However, when it becomes trapped in an enclosed structure such as a house, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Prolonged exposure to a high level of radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in this country. The EPA estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 Americans to die from lung cancer each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke, and your home has an elevated radon level, your risk of lung cancer may be higher.

One out of every fifteen homes in the United States has an elevated level of radon. Your neighbor’s house may not have a radon problem, but you might.

The only sure way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test for it. Testing is relatively simple and fixing a problem is usually no more expensive than some common home repairs.                                                          

Often times, sealing any cracks or openings in your home’s basement floors or foundation walls may resolve the issue. In more extensive cases, it may mean hiring a contractor to install a ventilation system. The Connecticut Department of Public Health provides a list of radon mitigation contractors on their website: www.ct.gov/dph/radon.

50 radon test kits will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit one kit per person, per residence. Proof of residency will be required. City residents can get pick up a free radon test kit at the Middletown Health Department in the lower level of the Municipal Building during normal business hours.

For more information on radon, call (860) 344-3482 or visit the EPA’s website at

www.epa.gov/radon/nram.