PA's 'Serious' Radon Problem: How To Make Sure Your Home Is Safe

PENNSYLVANIA — The cancer-causing gas radon can be found in almost 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes, according to the American Lung Association and state environmental officials.

January is National Radon Action Month, with environmental officials reminding residents to check their homes. And The American Lung Association’s “State of Lung Cancer Report” includes in-home radon testing data at a state-by-state level.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas with no color, odor or taste - and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, behind smoking. It can seep into homes and buildings through the soil.

“Some geographical areas naturally have higher average radon levels than others, but since any home can be at risk for elevated levels, the only way to know is to do a test,” the ALA said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends taking action if interior radon levels are at or above 4 pCi/L ("picoCuries" per liter of air), to reduce exposure to the gas. These measures should also be considered at levels at or above 2 pCi/L.

In Pennsylvania, an estimated 39.1 percent of radon test results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA. This is on the higher end of the scale nationally -- Hawaii had the lowest percentage of households testing over the recommended action level at 0.4 percent, and South Dakota had the highest at 59.8 percent.

“Pennsylvania has one of the most serious radon problems in the United States,” the state Department of Environmental Protection said. The state recommends getting a radon test, no matter where you live.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the American Lung Association are offering radon test kits to Pennsylvania residents who have not yet tested their homes for this dangerous gas for free, while supplies last.

The “State of Lung Cancer” report also examines rates of new lung cancer cases, survival, early diagnosis, treatment, and screening among different states. The American Lung Association said Pennsylvania “still has a lot of work to do to make sure that more of those at high risk for lung cancer are screened.”