The Mississippi State Department of Health is offering free radon test kits while supplies last.

According a press release by the MSDH, radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

The gas is usually found in nature and it merges into the air. But within a home it can accumulate. Over 20,000 citizens in the United States die of radon-related lung cancer each year and it causes up to 15 percent of lung cancer worldwide.

The release states excessive radon levels have been found in all 50 states, but fewer than three percent of homes in Mississippi have an excessive level of radon.

In order to obtain a free radon test kit, contact the MSDH Radon Hotline at 1(800) 626-7739 and the test kit will mailed with instructions. The MSDH can also assist homeowners who are interested in locating an approved contractor to solve radon related problems in a home.

For more information on radon, visit www.HealthyMS.com/radon or call the MSDH Radon Program at 1(800) 626-7739.