Radon
What is Radon and Why Does it Matter?
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States for non-smokers. Lung cancer is usually not discovered until its later stages, and radon-induced lung cancer kills an estimated 21,800 people every year. Radon is a radioactive element that is a product of uranium decay. It is an invisible, odorless gas found naturally in rocks and soils that rises to the surface to be released. Radon gas can enter your home through cracks in the foundation and become trapped, accumulating over time. The levels of radon can vary from house to house.
Pennsylvania is estimated to have some of the highest radon levels in the world - an estimated 40% of PA homes have radon levels above Environmental Protection Agency's action guideline of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). A pCi is a unit of measurement for the rate of radon’s radioactive decay over time. The average radon level in a Pennsylvania basement is 7.0 pCi/L while the average of first floors in PA is 3.5 pCi/L. The EPA strongly advises homeowners to mitigate radon at 4 pCi/L. However, it is recommended to take action for 2 - 4 pCi/L because, as scientists have supported, there is not a truly safe level of radon to remain in a building.
Protect PT's Radon Air Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Protect your family by monitoring your radon NOW
Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the US. It is
colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it undetectable without proper testing
equipment.
You can now participate in free radon testing through Protect PT’s Radon
Air Monitoring Program (RAMP).
Protect PT’s RAMP program provides residents
the opportunity to measure radon levels in their homes at no charge. Our designated
Protect PT radon measurement staff will install a radon monitor in the lowest habitable
level of your home, usually the basement. The small monitoring device will run for a
period of 7-90 days. We can extend the study if more data is desired by residents. After
collecting data, our designated measurement staff will provide a report on the results.
Based on your results, Protect PT will provide resources to pursue recommended next
steps, including DEP-approved information on locally licensed mitigators.