January is National Radon Action Month, marking a time of increased public awareness for this serious health hazard.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally through the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It can seep into homes through cracks in basements and foundations, and can build up inside to concentrations many times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, causing about 20,000 lung-cancer deaths in the United States every year. About 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have radon levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of four picocuries per liter.

While radon problems may be more common in some regions, the potential exists for any home in Pennsylvania to have high radon levels.

This year, DEP identified a record-high radon level in a Lehigh County home. The concentration measured was 3,715 pCi/L. In this case, DEP recommended the occupants vacate the home until the measured radon concentration was remediated to a level less than 4 pCi/L. Several other homes in that area were found to have measured concentrations over 1,000 pCi/L.

Pennsylvania is particularly prone to elevated radon levels, and the only way to know if there is a radon problem is to test the home. DEP recommends testing all homes and public and private buildings. The best time to test is during the cold-weather months, when homes and buildings are closed and radon is most likely to build up to unhealthy levels.

Residents may hire a certified radon testing company, though it is easy to perform a radon test by using a kit that can be purchased at a home improvement store or a Pennsylvania-certified radon laboratory.

Completed test kits are to be sent to a Pennsylvania-certified lab, where the samples are analyzed and the results are then sent to the resident. If results reveal radon levels above the action level, a radon mitigation system may be necessary.

Radon mitigation systems cost between $800 and $1,200 and require minimal maintenance. Most home or building owners choose to hire a radon mitigation professional to install the system.

For more information about radon, including information about interpreting test results or to find a Pennsylvania-certified radon contractor, visit DEP’s Radon Division webpage or call 1-800-23-RADON or EPA’s Radon webpage.

1/12/2015