TULSA, Okla. –The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is offering free radon test kits starting today in recognition of National Radon Action Month.
The agency is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a nationwide effort to highlight the dangers of radon exposure and encourage residents to test their homes.
What is radon?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in the ground. While radon is usually dispersed in outdoor air, it can build up inside homes and other buildings, where it may reach dangerous levels. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels can increase the risk of lung cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates radon exposure causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
“Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and free. The EPA estimates that one in 15 homes nationwide has a radon level at or above the recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air,” the department said in a statement.
How to detect radon and keep levels low
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends sealing cracks in floors and walls and increasing airflow by opening windows and using fans or vents to circulate air. Officials note those measures may provide only temporary relief.
DEQ officials are urging Oklahomans to test their homes to determine whether radon levels are elevated. Residents can request a free radon test kit online through the DEQ’s testing partner.
For a free test kit, visit https://states.aelabs.com/#/ok. Offers are only available while supplies last.
