JANUARY IS NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH - MESA COUNTY COLORADO

January is National Radon Action month. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. During the winter months, the Mesa County Health Department will be encouraging residents to test their homes for elevated levels of radon. Testing homes for radon levels is simple and inexpensive. Test kits can be purchased at the Mesa County Health Department for only $5.00 and the cost includes analysis and shipping. The Mesa County Indoor Air Quality Program is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to protect their homes and families by testing their homes for radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but can reach harmful levels when trapped indoors, especially in the winter time. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is estimated to cause 20,000 deaths this year due to unknown exposure. Radon poses a serious threat to our community’s health, but there is a simple solution, test your home. Mesa County Health Department urges residents to take action during the winter months to test their homes for radon. Winter is the best time for testing since windows and doors are normally kept closed. For more information on radon, radon testing and mitigation, or to get a test kit, please call 248-6960 or visit www.health.mesacounty.us. (INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MESA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT)