CITY OF LOCKPORT, N.Y.-- The Niagara County Department of Health is handing out radon testing kits to local homeowners.

The radioactive gas is naturally present in our soil, but it often builds up in homes during winter, which could have deadly consequences.

Short term testing kits are placed in the basement and left to collect data for about a week, before being sent off to a lab.

If your results come back higher than the EPA standard, you'll likely have to put out a long-term monitor and seal any cracks in your house.

"We actually have neighbors that had to have certain things put into their homes to divert the radon from coming into the home. So it is a concern,” said City of Lockport resident, Jacquelyn Langdon.

The tests are free to city of Lockport residents and $11 dollars for everyone else.