The EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month, a time when state radon programs and other partners conduct special radon outreach activities and events across the country. The aim of National Radon Action Month is to increase the public's awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction practices.

What is radon? Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. It is a naturally occuring gas that is generated through the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It makes its way into our homes through cracks in the foundation and seeps into basements.  Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually.

Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. The untimely deaths of Peter Jennings and Dana Reeve have raised public awareness about lung cancer, especially among people who have never smoked. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15% of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for radon.

For detailed info on radon, go to the EPA's website (click here).

Gov. Rendell Proclaims January ‘Radon Action Month’

Using a simple, inexpensive test to detect radon gas seeping into homes could help prevent lung cancer and save thousands of lives.

Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed January as “Radon Action Month,” and is urging all homeowners to test for radon.

The EPA recommends taking action to lower the level of radon in your home if a test finds the level is 4.0 picocuries per liter or higher.

An estimated 40% of the homes in Pennsylvania are believed to have elevated radon levels. While radon problems may be more common in some regions, any home may have a problem. The only way to know for certain is to test the air.

Pennsylvania has taken the lead on radon education and outreach. More than 83 hospitals now participate in DEP’s newborn radon program, which gives new parents information about radon along with a certificate for a free radon test kit.

Radon test kits are available at many home improvement, hardware, outdoor supply, lawn and garden, and department stores, as well as from Pennsylvania-certified radon laboratories. Most people can perform radon tests themselves. Completed test kits are sent to a Pennsylvania-certified lab where the sample is analyzed and the results sent to the homeowner. Radon mitigation systems typically cost between $800 and $1,200.

Most homeowners will choose to hire a radon mitigation professional to install the system. In Pennsylvania, anyone who tests or performs mitigation work for radon on a home other than the one in which they live must be certified by DEP. A list of state-certified radon contractors is available online at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Radon, then click on “Radon Services Directory,” or by calling 1-800-23-RADON.

Pennsylvania-certified radon mitigation and testing professionals are issued radon photo-identification cards by DEP. Homeowners are not required to test for radon. However, if a home has been tested, the results of that test must be disclosed when the home is sold. For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us