In addition to the other fun things about January—the extremely cold temperatures, the holiday credit card bill that comes in the mail—the month is also National Radon Action Month.
Radon probably doesn’t make your top-ten list of worries, but the Environmental Protection Agency argues you should pay a little more attention to it.
“You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home,” the EPA notes. “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year.”
So, what can you do about it? Get your home tested. If you want to test at home yourself, you can pick up a test kit at a home-improvement store or on Amazon—or you can get a discounted kit through the National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University. At-home testing kits cost usually between $15 and $25.
If you want to outsource the testing to a pro, the New York State Department of Health has a list of certified radon testers for the area. You can also find pros through the National Radon Proficiency Program or the National Radon Safety Board.
And if you’re still feeling down about January, check out our list of 31 food-and-drink-related ways to survive the month.
