By Michael P Waslh
Special to the Voice
January is National Radon Action Month, and the city Health Department is encouraging residents to protect their health by testing their home for radon.
Radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, is a colorless, odorless and naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. It is found in rock, water and soil.
While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings, Health Director Maureen B. Lillis said.
Lillis said testing for radon is recommended every two years.
The Health Department has received a limited number of free radon test kits from the state Department of Public Health.
To receive a test kit, West Haven residents can call the Health Department at 203-937-3660. A sanitarian from the department will help place the kit in the home, Lillis said.
To learn more about radon, visit https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Environmental-Health/Radon/Radon-Program.