Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is recognizing Radon Action Month by urging residents, no matter where they live, to test their homes for radon, a radioactive, colorless, and odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (after smoking) and responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CCDPH offers free radon test kits to suburban Cook County residents. At-home radon test kits are free and easy to use and can be lifesaving. Radon forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, or water. It can seep into homes through:

• Cracks in the foundation or basement floor

• Gaps around pipes, cables, or utility lines

• Construction joints where walls meet floors

• Crawl spaces or dirt floors

Questions about Radon test kits and removal can be sent to healthycook@cookcountyhhs.org.