Presentations teach radon safety, offer free radon test kits

January is National Radon Action Month, and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s (UNCE) Radon Education Program is offering free short-term radon test kits to Nevadans from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28.

Radon test kits are available at UNCE offices and partnering locations, as well as at presentations statewide.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It comes from the ground and can accumulate in homes, raising the risk of lung cancer.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than second-hand smoke, drunk driving, house fires and unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning combined.

In Nevada, one in four homes tested show radon concentrations at or above the EPA action level. According to experts, living in a home with radon concentrations at the action level poses a risk of developing lung cancer similar to the risk posed by smoking about half a pack of cigarettes a day.

The risk of radon-caused lung cancer can be reduced. A simple three-day test can determine if a house has a radon problem, and winter is an ideal time to test a home for radon. If radon problems are found, they can be fixed.

Scheduled presentations for Northern Nevada:

— Jan. 17 at Verdi Community Library and Nature Center, 270 Bridge Street, Verdi at 4 p.m.

— Jan. 23 at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market Street, Stateline at 6 p.m.

— Jan. 24 at the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive, Carson City at 6:30 p.m.

— Feb. 7 at South Valleys Library, 15650 Wedge Parkway, Reno at 6 p.m.

— Feb. 8 at Carson Calley Improvement Club (CVIC) Hall, 1604 Esmeralda Avenue, Minden at 6 p.m.

— Feb. 15 at the Storey County Senior Center, 100 Mill Street, Virginia City at 12:45 p.m.

— Feb. 21 at Incline Village General Improvement District (GID) Public Works, 1220 Sweetwater Road, Incline Village at 6 p.m.

— Feb. 24 at Northwest Reno Library, 2325 Robb Drive, Reno at 2 p.m.

For those who cannot attend a presentation, free test kits are available through Feb. 28 at the following northern Nevada locations:

— Carson City/Storey County Cooperative Extension, 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 15, Carson City.

— Carson Tahoe Cancer Resource Center, 1535 Medical Parkway, Carson City.

— Churchill County Cooperative Extension, 111 Sheckler Road, Fallon.

— Douglas County Cooperative Extension, 1325 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville.

— Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market Street, Stateline.

— Elko County Cooperative Extension, 701 Walnut Street, Elko.

— City of West Wendover City Hall, 1111 N. Gene L. Jones Way, West Wendover.

— Humboldt County Cooperative Extension, 1085 Fairgrounds Road, Winnemucca.

— Lander County Cooperative Extension, 815 N. Second Street, Battle Mountain.

— Lyon County Cooperative Extension, 504 S. Main Street, Yerington.

— Fernley City Hall, 595 Silver Lace Blvd., Fernley.

— Central Lyon County Fire District, 231 Corral Drive, Dayton.

— Mineral County Cooperative Extension, 205 S. A Street, Hawthorne.

— Pershing County Cooperative Extension, 810 Sixth Street, Lovelock.

— Storey County Library, 175 E. Carson Street, Virginia City.

— Washoe County Cooperative Extension, 4955 Energy Way, Reno.

— Sun Valley General Improvement District, 5000 Sun Valley Blvd., Sun Valley.

— Incline Village Recreation Center, 980 Incline Way, Incline Village.

Nevadans can also order free test kits online at https://fee4freekit.eventbrite.com; or by mailing in the Radon Test Kit Order form, also available online for printing at http://bit.ly/NRAM18freekit. Ordered test kits will require $4 for shipping.

For more information, call the Radon Hotline at 888-RADON10 (888-723-6610) or visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at www.RadonNV.com.

Cooperative Extension, the EPA and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health urge all Nevadans to test their homes for radon.

The Nevada Radon Education Program is a program of UNCE and is funded by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health through Grant Number K1-96963518-0 from the EPA. Since the program began in 2007, more than 26,000 homes have been tested in Nevada.

UNCE is the unit of the University of Nevada, Reno that is engaged in Nevada communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. It is a county-state-federal partnership providing practical education to people, businesses and communities. For more information on its programs, visit www.unce.unr.edu.