RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Nevadans can now borrow free, plug-in electronic radon monitors, making it easier and quicker to test homes for the lung-cancer-causing gas. University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Nevada Radon Education Program has acquired the devices to expand testing accessibility across the state.
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating 21,000 annual deaths from exposure. In Nevada, nearly 26% of homes tested have radon levels at or above the EPA’s action level.
“We know that for some people, having to mail in and wait for results may have been a deterrent to testing,” said Chris Kelly, manager of Extension’s Nevada Radon Education Program. “Now, these new monitors give those folks the option to just plug in a device and start seeing results within minutes. We just want people to test – that’s the bottom line.”…