January 11, 2019
Source/National Institutes of Health
Radon test kits can be purchased at most hardware stores for about $20 to $30.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States – by far. Public health officials have essentially drilled that fact into most Americans' heads for decades.
The second-leading cause remains a bit more anonymous.
Radon – an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the earth – causes an estimated 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Prevalent across much of the United States, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the radioactive carcinogen enters homes through tiny cracks in the foundation and other small openings.
But some good news exists: Radon testing is both simple and relatively inexpensive. And though mitigation systems can run north of $1,200, consider the medical expenses of fighting lung cancer.
"The big message is that radon is an independent risk factor," said Dr. Rohit Kumar, an associate professor at Temple Health's Fox Chase Cancer Center. "How much of an independent risk factor it is, it's hard to tell. But it's enough of a concern that everyone should get their house tested."
In Pennsylvania, nearly every county has locations of high radon levels. The predicted average indoor radon screening levels exceed federal guidelines in 49 of 67 counties, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Only Philadelphia County has a predicted average that falls in the EPA's lowest range.
In New Jersey, seven counties have average screening levels greater than federal guidelines. All of them are located in North Jersey. Most counties in South Jersey have moderate average screening levels.
But state officials warn residents against assuming their homes are safe based on county averages. It is a misconception that high radon levels are only found in homes located in regions with high averages.
Take Ocean County, New Jersey. Homes have tested as high as 23.7 picocuries of radon per liter, yet the county average is just 0.98 average pCi/L. Anything exceeding 4.0 pCi/L is considered dangerous, according to the EPA.
"It's all related to the geology, whatever is under the footprint of the home," said Denise Bleiler, radon program supervisor for Pennsylvania's DEP.
Radon levels are dependent on the distribution of uranium-rich rocks and soils, plus the porousness of the soil, near the home. The number and size of entryways – foundation cracks, French drains and sump pits – also impact radon levels. So does air pressure within the home.
These variables can change from house to house. That's why state officials recommend everyone have their homes tested.
The winter months make the best time to test for radon. Windows and doors mostly remain closed, providing for more accurate results. Naturally, January marks National Radon Action Month.
"You can walk into a house and smell mold and then you know you have a problem," Bleiler said. "With radon, because you can't taste or smell it, people tend to put it on the back burner."
Here's how to test your home and what to do if the test indicates radon levels are high:
The only way to know whether a home has elevated radon levels is to administer a test. Do-It-Yourself, short-term kits can be purchased at hardware stores for about $20 to $30.
Residents also can opt to hire state-certified testers. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey list certified testers, mitigators and laboratories on their respective DEP websites.
Those services will cost more than DIY kits, which are simple to administer.
When using a DIY kit, follow the instructions and fill out the form included with the device.
The device should be placed in the lowest livable level of the home, a designation that includes unfinished basements, but not crawl spaces. Do not place it a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or closet.
The device needs to be placed at least 20 inches above the floor, four inches from any other object and 36 inches from doors, windows or other openings to the outside. It should be situated at least one foot from any exterior walls.
Turn off any fireplaces, wood stoves and attic or window fans during the test. They will impact air pressure and could compromise results. Keep all exterior windows and doors closed during the test, except to leave the house.
Once the test is complete – a duration that lasts between four and seven days – immediately mail the device to a state-certified lab.
Long-term kits, which tend to have less variation, are also available.
Even if tests indicate low radon levels, Kumar urged homeowners to retest their homes every few years – particularly if their home was new construction. Houses settle and foundations crack in time.
"If it was zero at one time," Kumar said, "it doesn't mean that it will be zero a few years later."
Additionally, state laws in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey require real estate sellers to disclose the results of any known radon tests.
Radon levels that exceed 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) should be reduced, according to EPA guidelines. To do so, a radon mitigation system must be installed by a state-certified firm.
But first, homeowners should consider administering a second test to confirm the result – if they exceed 4.0 pCi/L.
The Pennsylvania DEP will send free follow-up test kits to residents who have tested their homes and found levels higher than 100 pCi/L. Residents should call 717-783-3594 or 800-237-2366 to receive a free kit.
Reducing radon levels can greatly reduce the risk of lung cancer.
About 1 in 145 nonsmokers who are exposed to a radon average of 4.0 pCi/L over their lifetime will develop lung cancer from radon, according to the EPA. At 2.0 pCi/L, that figure drops to 1 in 250 people. And when radon exposure falls beneath 1.3 pCi/L, the likelihood of getting lung cancer from radon diminishes to 1 in 500.
"The bottom line is, yes, independent of smoking, there is risk from radon," Kumar said. "This is something that most people and physicians, and the whole population, should be aware of. Because there's a lot of radon in Pennsylvania especially. It's one of the higher-risk states, in general."
For smokers, radon exposure heightens the risk of lung cancer. Exposed to 4.0 pCi/L levels over their lifetimes, smokers have a 1-in-16 chance of developing lung cancer due to radon, according to the EPA.
Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey list state-certified mitigation firms on their websites.
Sub-slab depressurization systems, which reduce radon levels by venting and sealing homes, are the most common radon mitigation system, according to the New Jersey DEP. The average system costs about $1,200, but prices range from $500 to $2,500.
Installation should take less than one day.
Homeowners should conduct a post-mitigation radon test. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey offer free follow-up kits to homeowners who have installed mitigation systems within the last year.
Additional follow-up tests should be conducted every two years.
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