Residents Urged to Test Homes for Radon - the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in the U.S.

Denver -- October14-20, 2001 is National Radon Action Week. The Denver Department of Environmental Health, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment wants to educate residents of the dangers of radon exposure, simple testing that can determine radon levels, and solutions for fixing radon problems in their homes. It is a correctable problem!

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is invisible and odorless. It can be drawn into a building and accumulate in concentrations that may be harmful at elevated levels. Scientific evidence shows that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. The risk is increased for smokers. Between one-third and one-half of the homes in Colorado have radon levels in excess of the EPA recommended action level of 4 picoCuries of radon per liter of air.

The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test. Testing your home for radon gas is easy and inexpensive - under $25. Discount coupons for radon test kits which meet EPA guidelines are available from the Denver Department of Environmental Health, Environmental Protection Division at 720-865-5452. For more information you can call us or visit our website at http://www.denvergov.org/Environmental_Protection/default.asp.

Andrew Hudson

Spokesman, Mayor Wellington Webb

1437 Bannock Street, ST 350

Denver, CO 80202

Direct(720)865-9016

FAX (720)865-8791

Pager (303)640-0780

Cell (303)880-9521

For information on Mayor Webb's Office