Durham Residents are Encouraged to Test for Radon

From CT Health Department: The Connecticut Public Health Department in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection agency has proclaimed January as Radon Action Month and urges all Connecticut residents to test their homes for radon and, if necessary, to mitigate high concentrations.Radon is naturally occurring colorless and odorless radioactive gas that is often found in soil and bedrock. Since radon is a gas, it moves easily through rock and soil and into the air. Outdoors, radon levels are low, but in an enclosed space like a house, radon can increase to a high level. Radon can enter a home through a dirt cellar floor, cracks in the foundation, joints between a concrete floor and walls, through sump pump drains and other openings.

Also, it can be released into the home by running water from showers, faucets and washing machines. The source of the water can be groundwater within a rock formation that contains a high concentration of radon.Long-term exposure to high levels can increase one's risk of developing lung cancer. Public health officials have determined that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. When exposure to radon is combined with smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke, the risk may increase dramatically. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year in this country.

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