Health Department Has Free Radon Testing Kits For Residents

BRANFORD, CT — They're free. And they save lives, especially given southern Connecticut is one of the high-radon areas of the country, according to federal environmental officials.

As part of National Radon Action Month, the East Shore District Health Department is offering Free Radon Air Test Kits to residents of Branford, East Haven and North Branford during the month of January.

Radon test kits are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

Testing is the only way to know if your home or well water has elevated radon levels. Radon levels tend to increase inside the home during the heating season when homes are closed. Equipment is available for homes that may need to reduce elevated radon levels at fairly reasonable cost.

What You Need To Know About Radon

· The CDC estimates that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. can be attributed to radon.

· Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

· Radon is a radioactive gas that can be found all over the U.S.

· It can seep into any type of building - brick or frame, new or old, basement or no basement, crawl space or slab on grade.

· Southern Connecticut is one of the high-radon areas of the U.S. designated by the EPA.

· Many people ignore the warnings about radon gas. Maybe because radon has no color, taste, or odor people don’t think about it.

Free Radon Test Kits will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis from the health district office. The kits were provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health radon program. Supplies are limited. One kit per household, please.

The East Shore District Health Department is located at 688 East Main St., Branford and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Please call the ESDHD at (203) 481-4233 if you have any questions.