(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and nearly 50% of Colorado homes have unhealthy levels of cancer-causing radon. This winter, the El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) recommends getting your home tested for it. In Colorado, the average indoor radon level is about 6.4 pCi/L. The action level for radon is 4 pCi/L. El Paso County has been designated as an area with high radon potential according to EPCPH. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in El Paso County alone, 40% of 19,137 tests have results over the 4 pCi/L. Living in a home with average levels of radon in Colorado is similar to having more than 200 chest X-rays taken every year. “El Paso County Public Health recommends you test your home for radon regularly, even if you have tested in the past or have a radon mitigation system,” Duane Dominguez, air quality program manager for El Paso County Public Health, said. "Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and testing is the only way to know if your home has high levels. Although Colorado homes are prone to high radon levels, testing is easy and affordable. Winter is the best time to test your home because windows and doors are normally shut.”  Test kits are usually inexpensive to buy. The homes and buildings that show high levels of radon can be mitigated with venting techniques. Programs for those in need are available: CDPHE offers free and low-cost radon test kits. CDPHE's Low-Income Radon Mitigation Assistance Program can assist those with the cost of radon mitigation systems. January is National Radon Action Month and EPCPH wants to remind the public to test their homes, regardless of construction type or style, as they can have elevated radon levels. Radon results from the natural; breakdown of uranium found in soils, rocks, and water. Radon in Colorado is generated by the radioactive decay of radium, which is present in uranium-bearing soils that can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains and eastern plains.