HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – January is National Radon Action Month and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Radon Control Program is encouraging people to test their homes for radon this winter.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers, and second only to smoking for the entire population. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer every year.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate over time in homes that are not properly vented. The underlying geology of much of Montana and the Northern Rockies makes homes in our region particularly susceptible.
The DEQ’s Radon Control Program is offering free short-term radon test kits to homeowners who call the Radon Hotline at 1-800-546-0483 and leave a message with your request and mailing address.
When elevated radon levels are fond, they can usually be significantly reduced for an investment of less than $2,000. New homes can be built using easy and inexpensive radon-resistant construction techniques.
For more information, including information on how to mitigate radon levels in your home, visit deq.mt.gov/energy/radon.
