Nearly half of all Colorado homes have levels of radon above the Environmental Protection Agency's standards. January is National Radon Action Month, and Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle Counties are offering free radon home test-kits.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas from the soil. It can come into homes or workplaces through cracks or small openings and become part of the air you breathe. Long-term exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Locally, 40 percent of all Garfield County homes and over 50 percent of Pitkin County homes have radon levels above the federal agency's standards.
Free radon home test-kits can be picked up at the following locations:
Pitkin County
- Pitkin County Public Health and the Environmental Health Offices: 530 East Main St., Suite 205 at the front desk.
Garfield County
- Garfield County Public Health Office in Glenwood Springs: 2014 Blake Ave.
- Garfield County Public Health Office in Rifle: 195 West 14th St.
- CLEER office in Carbondale: 520 South 3rd St. #29
Eagle County
- Vail Health Edwards Pharmacy inside Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards: 322 Beard Creek Rd.
- Environmental Health Department in Eagle: 550 Broadway
- El Jebel Community Center: 20 Eagle Dr.
Correction: A previous version of this story cited 80 percent of Garfield County homes as having radon levels above the Environmental Protection Agency's federal standards.