The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is offering free Radon testing kits to help DC residents maintain safe and healthy homes. According to the EPA and the District Department of the Environment, you can't see Radon, you can't smell it or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon is a pollutant that comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and can enter the air we breathe. Radon has been found in homes all over the United States, including the District of Columbia.
The kit is easy to use by placing it in the home for two days and then sending it to a lab for analysis in the kit's prepaid postage package. If the results are positive, a list of abatement companies can be provided. The severity of radon contamination will determine how much it will cost to get rid of the problem. This time of year is especially sensitive to Radon pollution because people keep windows and doors closed to keep in the heat. If the home is contaminated, it usually registers at a higher level during the cold months. January is Radon Awareness Month, and DDOE is starting now to alert DC residents to know that Radon is a serious health risk. The National Academy of Sciences reports that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US that causes about 15,000 deaths a year.
DDOE will be holding three Radon information workshops in January. The times and locations will be advertised and listed on the DDOE web site at http://ddoe.dc.gov. For more information and to get a free Radon test kit, DC residents should call the Radon hotline at (202) 535-2302.
