Daniel Pacheco
CU Cancer Center
Did you know radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers? For smokers, the risk is even higher. You can’t see, smell or taste it, but radon can harm your health. Radon is a gas found in soil that moves into the air through cracks in home foundations and walls. Radon levels are particularly high in Colorado due to the state’s geological makeup, with nearly half of all homes exceeding safe levels. Testing your home is easy with a simple do-it-yourself radon test kit.
From 2005 to 2023, 2,675 do-it-yourself radon test kits have been used in Garfield County. There are an estimated 23,021 homes in Garfield County, so more homes should be tested for radon. About 44% of homes tested for radon in Garfield County have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter, meaning those homes should take steps to reduce dangerous radon levels. Don’t delay; order your free radon test today!
Free radon test kits are available at the Rifle and Glenwood Springs Garfield County Public Health offices, CLEER in Carbondale (Third Street Center, suites 7 and 17), Aspen City Hall and the Pitkin County Administration Building. Additionally the University of Colorado Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach and Engagement and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are providing free radon test kits to Colorado residents, which can be ordered online, while supplies last, at www.bit.ly/COERadonFor homes with elevated radon levels, CDPHE offers a low-income radon mitigation program for those in need of assistance. To learn more about radon, find a mitigation professional or explore assistance options, visit www.ColoradoRadon.info