Radon Awareness

Radon Awareness Can Be Life Saving
 
 
    Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is found in all homes, but in some homes reaches high levels that can be a serious health hazard. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, in the general population and in non-smokers it is the leading cause of lung cancer. It occurs naturally in the soil and can affect any home by moving up through the soil and finding its way through cracks in the foundation and openings around pumps, pipes and drains into the house.  Even if your neighbors have tested and do not have a problem, your home can still have seriously elevated levels.
 
    The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection designates Readington Township as a Tier 1 Community, which means 41% of our homes, will have radon readings above the acceptable limits. Radon is measured in picoCuries/liter of air.  The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency recommends that action be taken to reduce radon levels if they are greater than 4pCi/L in a home. At this level, the risk of lung cancer from radon is greater than the risk from fire or any other home accident.
 
Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive. You may obtain a testing kit for $20.00 at the Readington Township Municipal Building. Further information can be obtained by calling the Board of Health secretary, Lorraine Petzinger, at 908-534-4051.  You may also call the NJDEP’s information line at 1-800-648-0394 to obtain a list of certified
companies that provide testing services, do-it-yourself kits and repairs. There is also information available on the web at www.njradon.org.
 
Fortunately, if a problem is identified in your home, eliminating or mitigating it can be done at a cost similar to that of other home repairs.  This is one of the serious health dangers in our lives that can be totally prevented by a simple test and repair. Keeping our families safe and healthy is a wonderful reward for the time spent to investigate for radon.