STAMFORD, CT -- The City of Stamford Department of Health, in conjunction with the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH), urges Stamford residents to test their homes for radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Health officials estimate that radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Smokers exposed to radon have a much higher risk for developing lung cancer.

The City of Stamford Department of Health and DPH Radon Program recommend that all Connecticut homes be tested for radon. Testing is recommended in the winter months, when radon tends to build up indoors. The City of Stamford Department of Health will be conducting free radon testing for all Stamford owner-occupied homes starting this January. Stamford residents may contact the City of Stamford Department of Health at 203-977-2748 to make arrangement to have their home tested. Test kits can also be purchased from the American Lung Association of New England by calling 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or at your local hardware store.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. Radon is found in rock, soil and water. While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter into homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard. Because radon is colorless, odorless and tasteless, people are often unaware that they are being exposed. That is why testing for radon inside homes is so important. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homes with radon levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L be remediated.

The DPH Radon Program produced a video, which provides step-by-step instructions on how to test your home for radon.

To learn more about radon and to obtain a list of qualified radon mitigation contractors, please visit the DPH Radon Program web site at www.ct.gov/dph/radon.