Routt County Public Health officials are encouraging residents to test their homes for possible dangerous levels of radon during Radon Action Month in January with free test kits available at the department.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notes that radon is responsible for approximately 500 lung cancer deaths annually in Colorado. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil that can permeate into a home.

Radon testing is important for a healthy home because long-term radon exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer, especially for smokers, according to experts. If a home already has a radon mitigation system in place, experts recommended retesting the home every two years to ensure the system is working properly.

Routt County Public Health offers free, at-home, short-term radon test kits to community members available to pick up at 135 Sixth St. in downtown Steamboat Springs.

For more information about radon and its impacts on health, visit the state’s radon information webpage at CDHPE.colorado.gov/hm/radon. The state also offers a Low-Income Radon Mitigation Assistance program to provide financial assistance to reduce radon in a home.