DURHAM, NC –  Despite possibly getting a heightened state of fear from watching too many horror movies or science fiction dramas, believe it or not, there really could be a silent killer lurking in your home…and it won’t jump out of your hallway closet in the middle of the night.

If radon is present in your home, you could be silently at risk for respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer.

During National Radon Action Month, the Durham County Department of Public Health will distribute free home radon test kits provided by the NC Radon Program on Tuesday, January 19, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., in the first floor main lobby of the Durham County Human Services Building, located at 414 East Main Street, while supplies last. Representatives from the United States Public Health Service will help staff the distribution table and provide education to Durham residents picking up kits.

Test kits can also be purchased at local hardware and home improvement stores or directly from radon testing companies that can be found online.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is invisible, odorless, tasteless, and is generally released harmlessly from the ground into outdoor air. However, it can accumulate and reach harmful levels when trapped in homes and buildings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

For more information about radon, visit the NC Radon Program’s website at www.ncradon.org.

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