Chances are you have some level of radon seeping into your house since Reno / Tahoe is one of those places with higher than average radon levels. The radon hazard here can be especially acute during the winter months when we button up our houses against the cold. Smokers are obviously at high risk if they live in a radon-rich environment. With their smaller lungs and higher breathing rates, children are especially susceptible as well.
Since radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, you must test to find out if radon is lurking in your home. Free radon test kits are available from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension for residents of Washoe, Douglas, Carson City, clark, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. Should your home prove to have elevated radon levels, there are a variety of mitigation measures you can take to eliminate the hazard. Getting rid of radon isn't free, but it's a bargain compared to lung cancer.
Together with Washoe County Library, the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is offering free educational programs and radon test kits at seven library locations. There will be a certified radon mitigator at several of the presentations to show how radon problems can be fixed. You'll also hear about the Test Your Home for Radon & Win contest, where you can win a $1,500 credit toward a radon mitigation system if your test comes back with elevated radon levels. Here are the dates, times, and places for these programs...
- Thursday, January 6, noon, Downtown Reno Library
- Thursday, January 13, 6 p.m., Incline Village Library
- Tuesday, January 18, 5 p.m., Sparks Library
- Wednesday, January 19, 6:30 p.m., Spanish Springs Library
- Tuesday, January 25, 4 p.m., Sierra View Library
- Wednesday, January 26, 6 p.m. Northwest Reno Library
- Saturday, January 29, 1:30 p.m., South Valleys Library
Source: Washoe County Library press release.
Get more Reno / Tahoe information:
- Receive the Reno / Tahoe Newsletter.- Speak up on the Reno / Tahoe Discussion Forum.
- Follow me on Twitter.
Comments