As wildfire smoke fills the air in the Centennial State, it can be hard to imagine that Colorado's indoor air quality is worse than its outdoor air quality — but it is.

This alarming statistic is due to a variety of factors, including cleaning products, dirty furnace filters, and radon gas. In fact, the City of Fort Collins reports that, because of high concentrations of uranium in our state's soil, homes in Colorado are more susceptible to radon than in other states.

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. But while we should be concerned, we shouldn't panic. Thanks to initiatives like the City's Healthy Homes Program, there are ways that residents can mitigate radon exposure.

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"Where we are at the greatest environmental risk is where we have the most control, and that's in our homes," said Selina Lujan de Albers, the Sr. Indoor Air Quality Specialist with the City's Healthy Homes Program, in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "We're really focused on finding low-cost or no-cost solutions to...help eliminate any sort of indoor air quality concern that could be impacting overall health."

That's why the City is hosting free, virtual radon information sessions for Larimer County residents on September 16 and September 21. Attendees will learn how to mitigate radon exposure within their homes and receive a free radon test kit.

Registration for the sessions is available here. Residents can find other tips about how to improve their home's indoor air quality via the City's Healthy Homes Indoor Air Quality Assessment.

"What I'm excited about is opportunities to really continue to make an impact," said Lujan de Albers. "There's always opportunity to get creative around indoor air quality and to help out where the need is at."

Learn more about the City's radon information sessions and Colorado's indoor air quality by listening to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Selina Lujan de Albers below.

2020 Cameron Peak Fire

 

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