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Partners: Plan an activity for National Radon Action Month.  Learn More

Consumers: Learn how you can take action during National Radon Action Month.  Learn More

Radon Tips: Test, Fix, Save a Life

Call your State Radon Contact to learn more about test kits and radon professionals that can help you test or fix your home. For more information about radon:

Get the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files linked on this page.  See EPA's PDF page to learn more.  [En Espaņol]

Learn more about National Radon Action Month.

Learn About Risks From Radon

You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home.  Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year.  In fact, the EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools, and other buildings for radon. Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk, and testing radon levels in your home can help prevent unnecessary exposure.  If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family. 

Take Action in January

EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month. To see a list of events in your area see the Activities Page. If you would like to organize an event in your neighborhood, see the Activities Kit to get started.

Four Things You Can Do During National Radon Action Month

  1. Test your home - EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon.  Testing is easy and inexpensive. Learn more about testing your home, including how to obtain an easy-to-use test kit.
     
  2. Attend a National Radon Action Month event in your area - Look for radon events in your community. Contact your state radon program for more information about local radon activities.
     
  3. Spread the word

    4.  
  4. Buy a radon-resistant home - If you are considering buying a new home, look for builders who use radon-resistant new construction. Read more about radon-resistant new construction, "Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide to Build Radon-Resistant Homes" (PDF, 84 pp, 5.52MB).

    Contact your state radon program for information about radon testing, mitigation, and radon-resistant new construction in your area.

EPA Radon Public Service Media Campaigns

New Green Sox Radon Media Campaign

Do you want to know how to step out on the green side of building healthier? EPA has developed a new media campaign, Living Healthy & Green, to educate consumers about the ease of testing for radon. The new campaign features Fuad Reveiz, a home builder and former professional football player, who builds his new homes radon-resistant and encourages others to do the same. These unique PSAs promote building healthier homes from the ground up. Look for these PSAs in your area.

Radon Video Contest

This summer, more than 30 people submitted their video entries for "Radon: Test, Fix, Save a Life" to encourage Americans to test and fix their homes for radon.  See the winning entry in the Radon Video Contest, “Eddie’s Story” which you can add to your Web site or blog.

The National Radon Poster Contest

Click on the image for a larger version

The National Safety Council (NSC), in partnership with EPA, hosts the annual National Radon Poster Contest. This year NSC received more than 1,672 outstanding entries from schools and tribes across the country. The 2009 winning posters are available for viewing on NSC’s Web site

If you missed this year’s contest, look for 2010’s contest announcement on NSC’s Web site next summer Entries are accepted from July 1 through October 15. The winner, a parent, and the sponsoring teacher receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, for a national awards ceremony in January. Entries are accepted from July 1 through October 15 of the preceding calendar year. Contact Kristin Lolmaugh Kristin.Lolmaugh@nsc.org or your state radon program for information about participating in the next National Radon Poster Contest.

EPA Recommends: Test your home for radon, it's easy and inexpensive; Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.

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