January is National Radon Action Month, and the Department of Environmental Protection encourages all Pennsylvanians to test their homes for this radioactive gas.

Exposure to radon in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Odorless and colorless, radon can enter your home from the ground, and Pennsylvania’s geology means we have some of the highest radon levels in the United States.

Easy-to-use DIY radon test kits are inexpensive and available at many home improvement and hardware stores. You can also hire a qualified radon professional.

If your home has a radon level higher than 4 picocuries per liter of air, the U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend taking action.

A professionally installed radon reduction system, using a vent pipe and exhaust fan, will help prevent the radon from entering your home and discharge it outside.

Compared with the risk of lung cancer, these systems are very affordable, generally in the price range of many common home improvements.

Find resources and information at DEP’s Radon in the Home webpage and visit the DEP Facebook page and Twitter page for daily tips on radon in January.

Make 2017 a safer, healthier year: Test your home for radon. And share this information with neighbors and friends.

Click Here to watch DEP’s Radon Awareness public service announcement.

Related Story:

Pennsylvania’s Role In The Discovery Of Radon

[Posted Jan. 5, 2017]

1/9/2017