Meeting to inform public about dangers of radon

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Radon Education Program is conducting a free public meeting from 5-6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Carson City Senior Center, 901 Beverly Drive.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air but can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.

Radon is created from natural deposits of uranium and radium in the soil. As of September 2008, 88 homes in Carson City had been tested, and 26 of them " about 30 percent " were over the EPA action level for radon. This compares to 22 percent of the homes tested statewide that were in excess of this action level.

But UNCE Educator JoAnne Skelly said people often don't take radon seriously because they can't see or smell it.

Skelly urged Carson City residents to test their homes for radon. Simple and free radon test kits can be obtained at the public meeting on Jan. 27.

"Test kits purchased at local hardware and home improvement stores can cost $20 or more, but our program is offering free test kits as a service to Nevada residents," Skelly said. "Radon is a serious health risk but can easily be prevented."

For more information on radon, call UNCE's Carson City office at 775-887-2252 or visit UNCE's Radon Education Program Web site at www.unce.unr.edu/radon or visit EPA's National Radon Action Month Web site at www.epa.gov/radon/nram.