From Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Newsletter, Jan. 9, 2014 ...

DEP Encourages Pennsylvanians to Test for Radon

DEP's public service announcement about radon testing.

HARRISBURG -- January is Radon Action Month and DEP reminds all Pennsylvanians to test their homes for this radioactive gas that is present in all 67 counties of the state.

Radon occurs naturally through the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It’s odorless and colorless and can seep into homes through cracks in basements and foundations.  It can build up to concentrations many times the recommended level.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Pennsylvania and causes about 20,000 lung-cancer deaths in the United States every year. Pennsylvania is particularly prone to elevated radon levels, with about 40 percent of homes in the state having radon levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of four picocuries per liter.

Testing for radon is the only way to know if a home or other structure has elevated levels of radon. 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.

DEP’s radon public service announcement is available on the department’s YouTube channel.

For more information about radon, including information on interpreting test results and finding a Pennsylvania-certified radon contractor, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Radon, or call 1-800-23-RADON.