DENVER — Radon is a serious concern in Colorado. Experts estimate that about 50 percent of homes in Colorado have high radon levels.
Radon is an "odorless, tasteless, colorless gas, and it is leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers," according to Mitchell Brown, the environmental health services supervisor with Jefferson County Public Health.
In early January, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment offered free radon test kits. However, they ran out within 12 hours due to high demand for the kits.
The Radon Project Manager then created a list of the counties and cities offering a limited supply of free radon test kits. You can find that updated list here.
Test kits can also be purchased at hardware stores. Prices start around $10. The state is offering discounted, short-term test kits for $15.
When buying a test kit, make sure the analysis is included in the price. And check on the timing — some kits offer just a short-term snapshot of your radon level, while others offer a long-term test. The free kits listed above are short-term tests.