The 500 free radon testing kits made available for National Radon Action Month were in high demand and quickly snatched up by Weld County residents last week.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment encouraged residents to test their homes for radon during National Radon Action Month by providing one free radon test kit per household while supplies last. The department was able to purchase 500 radon test kits through a small grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The test kits were made available free of charge to all residents on Jan. 5 in Weld County, according to Gabri Vergara, the department's Consumer Protection Manager.

The department was supplied with the funding for the main purpose of encouraging testing and increasing radon awareness, according to Vergara. Just five days later, she was notified the test kits had run out due to the high demand.

"I was actually surprised that the kits went so quickly this year," Vergara said in a statement over email. "I think it is due to the fact that homeowners are, indeed, becoming more aware and realize the importance of testing, and that there is an easy and fairly economical solution if a home does have a high radon level."

A map showing radon levels in tested buildings from 2007-2018. (CDC/For Greeley Tribune)

A map showing radon levels in tested buildings from 2007-2018. (CDC/For Greeley Tribune)

An additional way to receive free radon testing kits is from the state, according to Vergara. Alpha Energy Laboratories is offering free kits, while supplies last, to all Colorado residents.

If free kits become unavailable or if residents want to purchase an additional kit besides the free one, the organization will also offer discounted prices. For more information, go to www.aelabs.com. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates radon causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to a Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment news release. For non-smokers, long-term radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer, while it's the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers.

Radon can be referred to as a "silent killer" in a home due to its role as an odorless and colorless radioactive gas caused by the breakdown of uranium. The radioactive gas can move up from the ground into the air and enter a home through minuscule cracks in the foundation or small spaces around utility pipes, the release said.

Many people downplay the health effects of the silent killer because it can't be seen or smelled. In total, 50% of Colorado homes have radon levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended action level. All 64 counties in the state have a high risk for elevated radon.

For more information on radon or radon testing, call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or go to weldgov.com/go/radon.