Environmental Health
Radon
Overview
Housatonic Valley Health District strives to radon exposure and promote wellness through education.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas which comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. When emitted into open air, radon is rendered virtually harmless. However, when it becomes trapped into an enclosed structure such as a house, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels over an extended period of time.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
HVHD has joined the EPA and DPH to encourage residents to check their homes for radon by offering a limited number of free test kits. Test kits can be picked up from New Milford (10 Main Street, New Milford CT 06776) and Southbury (77 Main Street N, Southbury, CT 06488) offices starting January 3, 2023 during their normal business hours.
Resources
Updated: December 29, 2022