Pennsylvania residents are being encouraged by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to test homes for radon in relation to Radon Action Month which brings awareness to the public about this potentially serious health hazard.
“Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in the United States, and is a serious concern within the Commonwealth, but it is also very easy to protect yourself and your family from this naturally occurring gas,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “January is a great month to pick up a test kit from the local hardware store, put it on the lowest floor of your house, and send it in to find out if your home has radon. And if you do have elevated levels, DEP has a list of state-certified radon mitigation system installers that can work with you to address it.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every year there are an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths reported in the U.S. due to radon exposure. Around 40 percent of homes may have over the EPA action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. Some areas are more prone for radon issues, but this problem can potentially affect any home.
Pennsylvania is prone to elevated levels of radon and the only way to know for certain that a home has radon issues is to test the area. The best time to test is during the colder months because most places are closed allowing for radon to become trapped resulting in higher levels.
Test kits for radon can be found in many home improvement and hardware stores including Pennsylvania-certified radon laboratories. The kits can cost anywhere from $20 to $30. The kits once completed can be sent to a Pennsylvania-certified lab where the sample is analyzed and results of the test are sent to the home. Residents can also hire a state-certified radon testing company to do the testing on site.
The public is encouraged to call DEP’s Radon Division at 717-783-3594, or the Radon Hotline at 800-237-2366, for help with interpretation of their test results and what follow-up action may be necessary.
Permanent radon mitigation systems typically cost between $800 and $1,200 and require minimal maintenance. A list of state-certified radon contractors, labs, and testers is available on DEP’s website.
The list is also available by calling 1-800-23-RADON. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn.