To commemorate National Radon Action Month this January, the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Radon Education Program is offering free radon test kits and educational presentations at various locations across the state.
Free test kits are available at Cooperative Extension offices and partner offices statewide through Feb. 28, and will also be available at the presentations.
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas which comes from the ground. It can collect in homes, often without residents noticing because it’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunk driving, falls in the home, drowning or house fires.
In Nevada, one in four homes tested show radon concentrations at or above the EPA action level. According to experts, living in a home with concentrations at the action level poses as much risk of developing lung cancer as smoking about half a pack of cigarettes a day. To help raise awareness and protect its inhabitants, UNR’s Cooperative Extension is urging people to get educated.
Although radon can often go unnoticed, it is possible to detect with a test. A simple three-day test can determine if a house has a radon problem, and winter is an ideal time to test a home for presence of the gas. If problems are found, they can be fixed.
Scheduled presentations for Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Incline Village, Stateline and Minden are:
- Jan. 11: CVIC Hall, 1604 Esmeralda Ave., Minden, at 6 p.m.
- Jan. 12: Sparks Library, 1125 12th St., Sparks, at 6 p.m.
- Jan. 18: Carson City Senior Center, 901 Beverly Dr., Carson City, at 6:30 p.m.
- Jan. 23: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market St., Stateline, at 6 p.m.
- Jan. 24: Spanish Springs Library, 7100 Pyramid Way, Sparks, 5:30 p.m.
- Feb. 1: Incline Village GID Public Works, 1220 Sweetwater Rd., Incline Village, at 6 p.m.
- Feb. 8: South Valleys Library, 15650A Wedge Pkwy., Reno, at 6 p.m.
- Feb. 12: Sierra View Library, 4001 S. Virginia St., Reno, at 2 p.m.
For those who cannot attend a presentation, free radon test kits are available through Feb. 28. For details, call the Radon Hotline at 888-RADON10 (888-723-6610) or visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at www.RadonNV.com.
[clickToTweet tweet=”UNR Offering Free Radon Test Kits and Education” quote=”UNR Offering Free Radon Test Kits and Education”]
