Brief

Free radon test kits available at awareness presentations

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada State Health Division have taken the lead in Nevada to encourage all residents to test their homes for radon.

Although most people associate lung cancer with smoking, the leading cause for nonsmokers is radon. Smokers have a higher risk of radon-induced lung cancer than nonsmokers.

About 21,000 people die each year in the U.S. of lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure. The radon health risk is highly preventable, yet few people know about the radon risk or have their homes tested for it.

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil and enters homes through foundation cracks, openings and some of the porous materials used to construct foundations and floors of homes. It is an odorless, colorless, invisible gas that can reach harmful levels when trapped indoors. The only way to know what the radon levels are inside a home is to measure them.

"Winter is the ideal time to test your home for radon," said Laura Au-Yeung, the Southern area radon program coordinator, "as most of us keep our homes closed up during cold weather."

A Radon Awareness presentation has been scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Cooperative Extension's Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road, Suite 100. The presentation will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon and at the end participants will receive a free radon test kit.

Additional presentations are set for Nov. 5 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Sun City Anthem health fair, 2450 Hampton Road, Henderson; Nov. 28 from 2-3 p.m. at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; and Dec. 3 from noon-1 p.m. a the Boulder City Library, 701 Adam Blvd.

For more information, call Au-Yeung at 702-257-5550 or e-mail her at au-yeungl@unce.unr.edu or visit the radon Web site at www.RadonNV.com.

Problems found in small gardens topic of workshop

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is presenting a workshop Nov. 19 on gardening in small places, what went wrong and how to fix it organically.

Angela O'Callaghan will teach the session, which will focus on topics such as garden pests, leaves' appearance and trouble growing tomatoes.

The workshop, scheduled from 8 a.m.-noon, will be held at the Cooperatiave Extension's Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road.

There is a $20 fee, which includes all class materials.

Advance registration is required; class size is limited.

To register for the workshop, contact Elaine Fagin at fagine@unce.unr.edu or call 702-257-5573.