Ebbw Vale residents sought to test eco homes 2.

The power authority, in charge of setting the local standard, is also giving each town or any other municipality that passes a similar law a $25,000 grant to help train inspectors to test new homes.

"Every day of the week someone tells me that we've been here for centuries and living longer," said Robert Fiske, owner of Protect-a-Home in Newtown, a company that tests homes for radon.

The remainder comes from testing homes and businesses, he said.

In a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all families where children's belongings showed elevated mercury readings, nine teams of environmental and public health professionals from federal, state and city departments worked in unison to test homes for mercury.

Given those results, he said, there was no need to test 420 State Street or other homes.

William Kasziks, a broker at Realty World in Stamford, said his firm "has considered the purchase of equipment to test homes of clients as a public service, but we don't know much about it."

Scientific proof of radon's deadly health effects, combined with evidence of elevated radon levels in homes throughout the country, supports the recommendation to test most homes for radon.

In many areas, the local health department will test homes for lead-containing paint, soil and water or else recommend a professional tester.

This unit is part of the Kenosha/Racine Lead-Free Communities Partnership, which uses funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to test homes for lead and repair the most hazardous areas.