Governor Terry Branstad has declared January as Radon Action Month.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless naturally occurring radioactive gas that causes no immediate health symptoms, but long-term exposures may cause lung cancer. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil. Cory Frank with Marion County Public Health says lung cancer related to radon exposure kills approximately 400 Iowans a year, and 3-4 people in Marion County. Free radon test kits are available to the public at the Marion County Public Health Building in Knoxville.