Weld County offers free radon test kits

By Gabrielle Vergara

Program Coordinator, Environmental Health Services for Weld County

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and 46 percent of all homes in Colorado are estimated to have high levels. “You can’t smell it, see it, or taste it” said Dr. Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Health Department. “With testing, we know high radon levels are present in many homes.” With funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Weld County Health Department is offering free radon test kits to any Weld County resident — limit one per household — while supplies last.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that results from the natural decay of uranium. Uranium is found mostly in rock formations, but can also be found in soil and water. Radon typically moves up through the ground and into homes through cracks and other holes in a house’s foundation. The home acts as a cell in which radon can settle and build up to toxic levels. The only way to know the levels in your home is to test. Health officials urge all Weld County residents to take action by testing their homes for elevated levels of radon. If a home tests high for radon, remediation can mitigate the problem. “The cost of remediation is comparable to replacing a residential hot water heater” said Wallace.

To receive your free radon test kit, visit the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, 1555 North 17th Ave., Greeley; or the Southwest Weld County Health Department satellite office at 4209 County Road 24 K , Longmont. Both offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on radon, radon testing and radon mitigation, call Gabrielle Vergara, Environmental Health Educator, at 970-304-6415, ext. 2226.