The American Lung Association “State of Lung Cancer” report reveals that radon is detected at high levels in about 25.8% of homes in Connecticut.
Radon, a radioactive product of the element radium, is invisible and odorless and occurs naturally in soil, rock and water across the country. Although relatively harmless when diluted in the open air, radon can pose a serious health threat when concentrated indoors. When inhaled, radon releases a small burst of energy that can damage the DNA in lung tissue over time and lead to lung cancer. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Radon gas can leak into your house through the basement or crawl space, or through well water and can be a problem for all types of homes-new and old. The good news is that testing for radon in your home is simple and inexpensive, and you can monitor radon levels yourself by using a radon test kit. You can also hire a nationally certified measurement professional to measure the level of radon in your home. If the average of two short-term tests or one long-term test demonstrates a radon level of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air) or higher, then a nationally certified mitigation professional should be hired to mitigate the elevated radon level.

The Stratford Health Department encourages residents to test their homes for elevated levels of radon. Testing is especially important for homes that have never been tested or have undergone any new construction. Free short-term radon test kits are currently available at the Health Department located at 468 Birdseye Street, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Wintertime is the best season to test.

To learn more about radon, you can also visit the sites below:

Environmental Protection Agency

CT Department of Public Health