Darien Is Offering Limited Free Radon Test Kits This Month

DARIEN, CT — The month of January has been designated as Radon Action Month by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and free radon test kits are being made available by the Darien Health Department on a first-come, first-served basis.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that is normally harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air but can reach harmful levels when it enters and gets trapped in buildings, particularly in the winter months when homes and other buildings are closed up. It comes from the ground and can enter a home through small cracks and other openings in the foundation.

Dissolved radon can occur naturally in groundwater and may be aerosolized into the air within a home serviced by well water when running faucets, showers, dishwashers or a washing machine.

The US EPA recommends that homes with radon levels at four or more picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air have mitigation systems installed. Even if the radon test result is below 4 pCi/L, additional testing should be done at some point in the future, especially if you occupy the lower level of your home, or planning a renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space.

Darien First Selectman Monica McNally urged residents to test their homes. She said test kits usually cost $25 at a home improvement store.

"Every storm we have, we seem to have at least one person where this is a cause for concern for them," she said during Monday night's Board of Selectmen meeting.

For more information, reach out to the Darien Health Department at 203-656-7320. The department is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., closed Fridays and on holidays.