Last Updated: January 17, 2025
If one of your new year’s resolutions is to quit smoking, that’s great! RHHD has lots of resources to help you, like the Free From Tobacco program for Richmond residents and the Quit Now Virginia initiative for anyone in Virginia.
Whether you use tobacco products or not, there’s another thing you can do this winter to keep your lungs healthy: Test your home for radon.
What even IS radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless gas found in certain types of soil and bedrock. Radon can seep into a home from exposed dirt like a crawl space, plumbing cut-out or old cellar. It can also pass through openings in your foundation such as unsealed sumps, drains, joints, or cracks. Because humans can’t smell, see, or taste radon, testing is the only way to know a home’s radon level.
“High radon test results have been found in every county in Virginia and your results might be significantly different than your neighbor’s,” said Virginia Department of Health Radon Coordinator Ryan Paris. “Radon testing is an inexpensive step that you can take to protect your health and the health of your family members.”
Why should I know about radon?
It’s all about those lungs! Indoor radon exposure is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. Radon exposure may contribute to 21,000 cases of lung cancer each year in the United States, including almost 700 cases per year in Virginia. If you’re taking steps to breathe easy in other ways, radon testing is an important part of your lung health toolbox.
How do I test for radon?
January is National Radon Action Month, and it is a great time to test for radon!
Community members can order short-term, do-it-yourself radon test kits from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for a $4 shipping fee. Tests can be ordered at vdhradon.org now through April 30 while supplies last.
Follow instructions on the test kit itself, and learn more about testing through the EPA Citizen’s Guide to Radon. You can also visit the National Radon Safety Board and the National Radon Proficiency Program to find professional, certified radon mitigators and testers in Virginia.