This news item expired on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. Radon is released harmlessly from the ground into outdoor air, but it can accumulate and reach harmful levels when trapped in homes and buildings.
The Buncombe County Environmental Health Program is partnering with the NC Radon Program to provide free short-term radon test kits to the citizens of Buncombe County during the month of January while supplies last.
Test kits can be picked up at Environmental Health, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 30 Valley Street in Asheville.
Once the free kits are distributed, short-term radon test kits will be offered at a reduced cost from www.ncradon.org.
Free kits can also be ordered by mail from www.ncradon.org while supplies last.