City of Aspen Offering Free Radon Tests
January is National Radon Action Month
Aspen, CO - January has been designated National Radon Action Month, and the city of Aspen's Environmental Health and Sustainability department is taking proactive steps to address the potential threat of radon gas in local homes.
To encourage residents to safeguard their homes and loved ones, the city of Aspen is offering free radon tests. The only way to determine if your home has elevated radon levels is by conducting a radon test. Tests will remain available all year, and residents can request their free radon test kit by emailing airquality@aspen.gov, calling (970) 920-5039 or picking one up at City Hall located at 427 Rio Grande Place, in the community development office on the first floor. Free test kits can also be ordered online at https://states.aelabs.com/#/co-pitkin.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas resulting from the decay of uranium found in rocks and soils, can seep into homes through cracks in floors, posing serious health risks.
About 50% of homes in Colorado have been found to have high radon levels, and due to the geological conditions in the state, homes here tend to exhibit higher radon levels than the national average.
Radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. When radon gas decays into radioactive particles, inhalation of these particles can damage DNA in sensitive lung cells, leading to the development of cancer.
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For more information please contact:
Julie Kline, environmental health specialist
Phone: (970) 920-5069
Email: julie.kline@aspen.gov
Carolyn Sackariason, communications coordinator