Arapahoe County ramps up radon outreach with free test kits and billboard campaign

Arapahoe County Public Health used its study session to press home a simple, science‑based message: test your home for radon.

Dylan Garrison, an environmental health manager, briefed the board on National Radon Action Month outreach and local data. "Radon is odorless, it's invisible ... it can eventually lead to lung cancer," Garrison said, noting the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter as the threshold for concern.

Garrison told the board that statewide and in Arapahoe County radon prevalence is high: "You're looking at about 1 in every 2 homes" with elevated levels in Colorado, and county estimates mirror that statewide pattern. To reach residents, the county is boosting communications in January, offering several hundred free test kits on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and working with other local health departments on a common slogan and metro billboard campaign.

The presentation walked through practical next steps for residents: order a free test kit online, place the kit during the winter when doors and windows are typically closed, and return it for lab analysis; continuous monitors are also available for purchase to track variations over time. Garrison explained mitigation basics — a sump‑style venting system with a fan that routes gas outdoors — and said installation costs commonly run from about $1,000 to $3,000, though low‑income households may be eligible for state mitigation assistance (LERMA).

Board members asked about geographic hot spots and measurement timing. Garrison said the state maintains an interactive map by county that can show where tests have reported high readings, and recommended testing in winter and again in summer for comparison. He urged ongoing monitoring rather than a one‑time check if homeowners want more precision.

No board action was taken; staff encouraged residents to order kits and said the county would track uptake and test results as the campaign proceeds.