Winter's the best time to test for deadly radon

HARRISBURG — The Department of Environmental Protection is urging all Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon, a deadly radioactive gas that’s the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the United States.

DEP also urged residents to take action to reduce radon levels in their homes if they are high.

“Due to our geology, radon is found everywhere in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. "For that reason, we urge residents to test their homes to protect themselves and their family’s health."

He said winter is the best time to test homes for radon because doors and windows are typically closed and tightly sealed, producing the most accurate results.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets the “action level” for radon at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. Residents with levels at or above that figure should take steps to lower them. (For results in zip code 18337, see sidebar.)

Testing for radon is the only way to know if a home, school, workplace or other structure has elevated concentrations of radon. Test kits can be purchased at most hardware or home improvement stores at an average cost of $15 to $25 per test. If you are uncomfortable doing the testing yourself you can hire a state-certified radon tester, or if you are selling your home and want a radon test, it is best to hire a certified tester. The cost of a mitigation system typically ranges around $1,000.

Pennsylvania law requires all radon service providers, such as radon testers, radon mitigators and radon laboratories to be certified by DEP. The list of Pennsylvania-certified radon service providers is updated monthly and available on DEP’s website. You can also obtain a hard copy of the directory or verify a company’s certification by calling 800-23RADON.

In 2014, the highest radon level ever recorded in the U.S. was found in a home in Lehigh County. The concentration measured was 3,715 pCi/L, more than 900 times EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L. DEP recommended the owners vacate their home until it could be remediated to safe levels.

“Approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are attributable to radon exposure so the threat is very real,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “Radon exposure combined with smoking is a particularly lethal combination so we encourage everyone to take steps to reduce their risk.”

For more information about radon testing, and how to build radon-resistant construction, visit DEP’s website at www.dep.pa.gov/radon.