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Walking Mountains, Eagle County and Vail Health partner to offer free test kits for Radon Action Month

To help prevent lung cancer from exposure to radon gas, Walking Mountains has partnered with Eagle County Public Health and Environment and Vail Health’s Shaw Cancer Center to raise awareness and offer free radon test kits for homes in Eagle County. January is National Radon Action Month, a time to promote awareness about radon and provide free test kits to residents to measure radon levels in their homes. The test kit is simple and easy to use, with detailed instructions and a pre-paid envelope to mail the test to the lab for analysis and results.

Radon is a naturally occurring invisible, odorless, and radioactive gas that is known to cause lung cancer. It can leak into a building through cracks or holes in foundations, construction joints, or crawl spaces, and build up to dangerous concentrations. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and causes over 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.

“Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and while Colorado is notorious for having higher rates of radon in homes than other states, it is preventable and easily mitigated,” said Dr. Patricia Hardenbergh, a radiation oncologist at Vail Health’s Shaw Cancer Center. “We are proud to once again partner with Walking Mountains and Eagle County to offer free radon test kits.”



According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, approximately 40 percent of Eagle County homes have radon gas above the Environmental Protection Agency recommended “action limit.” The EPA states that the action limit for radon in a home is 4.0 pCi/L (Picocuries per Liter of Air). The most common time for radon testing in homes is during a real estate transaction, however, in Eagle County, you can test your home for free anytime by simply picking up a kit.

The following steps are recommended for learning about radon levels in your home:

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  • Step 1: Complete a short-term test. If results are 4.0 pCi/L or higher move to step 2.
  • Step 2: Complete a follow-up test. If results are 4.0 pCi/L or higher move to step 3. If your first short-term test result is more than twice the EPA’s 4.0 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately. Long-term tests are also an option for follow-up, this gives you an understanding of your year-round average radon levels.
  • Step 3: Mitigation is advised if the average of your first and second test is 4.0 pCi/L or higher. Radon mitigation is available by several local certified contractors and Walking Mountains can provide a list.

Nikki Maline, Walking Mountains’ Energy Programs Director adds: “We have rebates available for local homes that get radon mitigation completed should elevated radon levels be detected.” A home energy assessment is required for a rebate. To schedule an assessment and learn more about rebates visit Walkingmountains.org/energy or call 970-328-8777. To learn more about radon visit cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/radon or call Eagle County Environmental Health at 970-328-8755.

Free radon test kits are available year-round at:

  • Eagle County Environmental Health Department desk — 551 Broadway in Eagle
  • El Jebel Community Center — 20 Eagle County Drive in El Jebel
  • Walking Mountains (Visitors Center) — 318 Walking Mountains Lane in Avon

January only:

  • Eagle County Annex Public Health office — 100 W. Beaver Creek Blvd in Avon

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