Free Radon Test to the First 1,000 Callers

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Indoor Environment Program is offering a free radon test kit to the first 1,000 callers during the month of January, which is National Radon Action Month.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the decay of uranium in soil. It is odorless, tasteless and invisible. It also is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Elevated levels of radon gas have been detected in all parts of Idaho. It seeps into homes and other buildings through gaps in walls and foundations.

Radon test results reported to the Indoor Environment Program indicate 38 percent of homes tested in Idaho had levels of radon equal to or greater than the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4 pCi/L (picoCuries per Liter). This federal action level was established as a point where steps should be taken to reduce radon in homes or buildings. The average indoor radon level for Idaho is 6.4 pCi/L.

Testing for radon is easy. Homeowners simply set the kit in their home for three to seven days, and then mail it to a lab for analysis in a mailer supplied with the test kit. If a high level of radon is discovered—it can be fixed through a variety of techniques, depending on the home. Radon is an environmental hazard that can be corrected.

To order your free test kit, please contact the Idaho Careline at 211. For more information about radon, contact the Idaho Indoor Environment Program at 1-800-445-8647 or email faustj@dhw.idaho.gov.