GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- January is radon action month and local health officials are urging people to be aware and take action to prevent negative effects to their health.

Environmental Health Specialist at the Central District Health Department, McKenzie Hatch said radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that cause 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

“It's a public health concern because it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to cigarette smoking, so it’s quite significant,” she said.  

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas, so no one can see it, smell it or taste it. The only way to know if anyone has been exposed to it, is to test for it. Hatch said it is a simple test. 

“You pop the envelope open, leave it hanging in your lowest level of living for three to seven days in an area that doesn’t have a lot of airflow," Hatch said. "So, keep it away from like any doors that are opening or closing a lot.”

Any home can have a radon problem. Children may be at an increased risk for health complication because their lungs are not fully developed. If smokers are exposed to radon face a lung cancer risk 15 times greater than that of non-smokers. 

CDHD has about 300 hundred free kits available for the public, postage is paid and results will be received via email.