January is National Radon Action Month, and the Burlington County Health Department is distributing free radon test kits to county homeowners to check their homes for the radioactive gas.
Around 110 kits are available as part of a partnership between Burlington County and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to raise awareness and help safeguard local homes from the hazard.
“Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that can pose a serious health risk,” said Burlington County Health Department Director Dr. Holly Cucuzzella. “According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is estimated to be responsible for about 21,000 deaths each year, including a significant number of people who have never smoked. Testing the air in your home is a simple way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this potential hazard.”
The gas is formed naturally when uranium and radium break down in the soil and in rock formations. Radon gas then moves up through the soil and can enter homes through cracks in foundations and openings around pumps, pipes and drains.
In New Jersey, close to 10% of radon tests equal or exceed the EPA’s action level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). The average U.S. indoor level is 1.3 pCi/L.
The available home test kits are simple to use and are offered free to Burlington County residents. If high levels of radon are detected, the Health Department can also help advise on mitigation actions and certified radon mitigation professionals.
By law, all businesses and professionals conducting radon testing and mitigation in New Jersey must be certified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The department’s Radon Section regulates radon measurement and mitigation businesses and professionals to ensure high quality radon services.
Typical mitigation systems use a vent pipe and fan to collect and vent the gas from a home. Costs are usually the same as many other home repairs.
Burlington County Commissioner Tyler Burrell, the liaison to the Health Department, said the free kits can help reduce the radon risk in the county.
“A significant number of homes are likely to have levels above the acceptable limits so it’s important that we test as many places as possible to detect the danger,” Burrell said.
Homeowners can arrange to pick up a free test kit while supplies are available by calling Burlington County’s Environmental Health Coordinator at (609) 265-3739. More information about radon is available online at www.njradon.org or by calling the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s radon program at (800) 648-0394.
