Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers in the United States resulting in about 20,000 deaths annually according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

January is recognized as Radon Action Month and Washington County Environmental Health Director Jennine Wolf says every homeowner should test for radon, “You could live in the same block, have five houses and three of them could have radon and two of them not. So, it just depends where the radon pocket is. Iowa is in the middle of the radon hot spot, so it’s very important that we learn about radon, how it can affect you. It’s odorless, colorless so you don’t know if you have it or not. That’s why having the test (done) is very important.”

Wolf says for a more accurate measurement of radon in the home, it’s best to test for radon during the winter months when homes are most often closed off. She says test kits are available through her department for $15.