RADON

WHAT IS RADON?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You can’t see, smell or taste radon. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Being a gas, radon easily can find its way out of rocks and soil, mix with other soil gases and enter homes and other buildings through cracks and openings in foundations. Some radon can also enter homes through drinking water. Radon can then enter the air after leaving the water during showering, cooking, and other water use activities.

TESTING FOR RADON
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time. There are many kinds of low-cost "do it yourself" radon kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Home test kits should be labeled "meets EPA requirements."

For more information about radon go to United States Environmental Protection Agency

CONNECTICUT CONTACT
Conn. Dept. of Public Health Radon Program provides literature on prevention and detection of radon and maintains a list of companies that can test for radon.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Environmental Hazards Information

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SOURCE: United States Environmental Protection Agency: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: September2008