January is National Radon Action Month! Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer. Through a partnership with the CT Department of Public Health, the Norwalk Health Department can offer 100 radon kits to Norwalk residents. There is a limit of one kit per household, while supplies last. To request a radon testing kit, please complete this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/radon2022. Health Department staff will follow up with recipients to provide information and remind you to use the test. 

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas released in soil, rock, and water from the breakdown of uranium. It can be drawn into homes and other buildings through cracks and other openings in the foundation. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon gas indoors is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, and smokers are at an even higher risk of lung cancer when exposed to radon. Radon levels vary throughout Connecticut. Levels of radon may vary in each home depending on the structure of the building; your home can have elevated levels of radon while your neighbor’s home does not. You cannot see, taste, or smell radon, so the only way to tell if you have a radon problem in your home is to test for it. 

Testing involves placing a small device in your home for at least 48 hours and then sending the device to a laboratory for results. If you cannot get a kit from the Health Department, some low-cost testing kits are available from the American Lung Association’s online store (lung.org). You can also get testing kits at your local hardware store. If radon levels are high (4 pCi/L or higher), CT DPH strongly recommends that homeowners hire a professional to help lower the levels. These professionals are trained to reduce radon in homes by using ventilation and depressurization systems and other techniques. As with many home repairs, the cost of fixing radon problems varies. CT DPH estimates that the average cost of this service ranges from $1,200 to $1,500. For more information and a list of radon professionals please visit the CT DPH website (http://www.ct.gov/dph/radon).

If you have any questions, please contact Jahliah Green at (203) 854-7790.