Letter to the Editor – January 26, 2023

January is national radon action month

To the Editor:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month and urges homeowners to take action by testing their homes for radon gas. Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally during the decay of uranium in the soil. Because uranium is especially prevalent in rocky areas and around granite, buildings in Vermont and New Hampshire have a greater risk of having elevated radon levels than the national average.

Long-term exposure to radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. This is more than drunk driving-related fatalities.

Testing for radon is simple: You can obtain a radon test kit through the Department of Health, the hardware store or a certified lab. Alternatively, you can hire a certified radon measurement provider, who is trained in testing protocols, to conduct the test for you.

If elevated levels of radon are found, in most cases it can easily be fixed with a fan and pipe mitigation system.

The EPA and the Department of Health urge homeowners to take action by testing their homes for radon. Find more information on radon here.

Test. Fix. Save a life.

Braden Arnold
Rutland