Governor Chet Culver has declared January “Radon Action Month” in Iowa. Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that causes no immediate health symptoms, but long-term exposures can cause lung cancer. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil. The IDPH says Radon gas seeps into a house from the soil around and under the home, through cracks in the foundation, floor or walls and through openings around floor drains, pipes and sump pumps. Radon has been detected in new and old homes, and in homes with or without basements. Test kits are simple to use and typically cost less than $20. They can be obtained by calling the Iowa AIR Coalition of Public Health Officials at 800-206-7818.