Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed January as National Radon Action Month.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas responsible for hundreds of Colorado lung cancer deaths each year. The colorless, odorless, tasteless gas enters homes through cracks in the floor or spaces around utility pipes and accumulates unless properly mitigated. Long-term radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. More Americans die from lung cancer than any other cancer.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides coupons for reduced-cost radon test kits. For more radon information and to get the coupon, visit Colorado.
The Web site also lists contractors certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program to install systems to remove or mitigate radon. Colorado residents also can call the state's Radon Hotline at 1-800-846-3986 or check with their local health department, county extension office or public health nurse for radon information.
Prowers County Public Health and Environment has free test kits for residents of SE Colorado to use.