From Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Newsletter, Jan. 9, 2014 ...
DEP Encourages
Pennsylvanians to Test for Radon
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.