Free radon test kits are available from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner offices statewide. Nevadans are encouraged to take advantage of this free offer to test their homes for this dangerous gas. The tests are extremely easy to conduct.

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes from the ground. It accumulates in homes and can cause lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-induced lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunk driving, falls in the home, drowning or house fires. This type of lung cancer is preventable, and the only way to know if a home has elevated levels is to test it.

Cooperative Extension has been working to raise awareness of the dangers of radon in the home since 2007. They have distributed radon test kits since 2008. Since that time, more than 16,000 homes have been tested in Nevada, and results indicate that one in four found potentially hazardous radon levels. Once detected, there are fairly easy, inexpensive ways to reduce the radon exposure to safe levels.

January is also National Radon Action Month, and to better help communities comprehend the dangers of radon, the Nevada Radon Education Program will offer presentations at various locations. Test kits will also be available at the presentations.

Scheduled presentations for Reno, Sparks, Carson, Tahoe and Douglas are:

Jan. 2 – Washoe County Cooperative Extension, 4955 Energy Way, Reno, at 6 p.m. (Radon Poster Contest Awards after program)

Jan. 7 – Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway, Reno, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 – Northwest Reno Library, 2325 Robb Drive, Reno, at 5 p.m.

Jan. 9 – Sierra View Library, 4001 S. Virginia St., Reno, at 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 – North Valleys Library, 1075 N. Hills Blvd. #340, Reno, at 11 a.m.

Jan. 22 – South Valleys Library, 15650A Wedge Parkway, Reno, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 – Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market St., Stateline, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 28 – UC Davis/Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) at Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, at 6 p.m. (with a reception at 5:30 p.m.)

Jan. 29 – CVIC Hall, 1604 Esmeralda Ave., Minden, at 6 p.m. (Radon Poster Contest Awards after program)

Jan. 30 – Carson City Sheriff’s Office, 911 E. Musser St., Carson City, at 6 p.m.The presentation for Las Vegas is Jan. 16 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, at 6 p.m.

Scheduled presentations in the other communities are:

Jan. 6 – White Pine County Library, 950 Campton St., Ely, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 – Eureka Opera House, 31 S. Main St., Eureka, at 5 p.m.

Jan. 13 – Elko County Library, 720 Court St., Elko, at 12:00 p.m.

Jan. 14 – Humboldt County UNCE, 1085 Fairgrounds Road, Winnemucca, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 15 – Churchill County Multi-purpose building, 225 Sheckler Road, Fallon, at 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 21 – Pershing County Community Center, 820 Sixth St., Lovelock, at 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 – Mineral County Cooperative Extension, 205 S. A St., Hawthorne, at 6 p.m.

Jan. 23 – Lyon County UNCE, 504 S. Main St., Yerington, at 6 p.m.

Cooperative Extension, the EPA and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health urge all Nevadans to get their homes tested for radon. For more information, visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at www.RadonNV.com, call the Radon Hotline at 888-RADON10 (888-723-6610), or contact Nevada Radon Education Program Director Susan Howe at [email protected] or at 775-336-0248.