January is Colorado Radon Month
January 16, 2012
Governor John Hickenlooper signed a proclamation declaring January as Colorado Radon Action Month. This is a great month to test for Radon Gas because windows are usually closed and the gas is able to build up and give a more accurate reading.
Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is caused from the radioactive decay of uranium. This decay occurs naturally in the soil, which then enters homes and businesses through cracks in the foundation, floors, spaces around utility pipes and through crawl spaces.
Long term Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers.
Colorado’s geological makeup causes our state to be at high risk for Radon. The Radon gas moves throughout the soil, so you never know where it will exit from. One home may have a high radon level, and the home next door may be at a safe level.
The City of Pueblo along with Citizens for Clean Air in Pueblo for Education, CCAP_ERA have teamed to educate local residents of the dangers of Radon in the home. Of the 1600 home in Pueblo County that have been tested, over 70 % of them had elevated, unsafe levels of Radon.
To find out if you have high levels of Radon in your home, CCAP-ERA is offering free Radon Testing Kits to all Pueblo County residents. All test kits used to test radon levels during the month of January will be entered for a chance to win a pize valued at $50.
To get your free testing kit, you can go to the Citizens for Clean Air office, lacoated at 301 N./ Main St. Ste 101 or call 252-6258. You can also pick up a testing kit at the Pueblo Health Department (583-4924)
Once you have the results of your Radon test, call Webbs Radon Service (they are a certified EPA mitigator) to go over the options available to mitigate your home. They can put your home at a safe level within a couple of days. You owe your self and your family the assurance that the air you are breathing in your home is safe!
