WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
ANNOUNCES RADON ACTION MONTH

Washington Township Health Department, Morris County, New Jersey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Radon Program, announces that January has been designated Radon Action Month.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. However, because radon is invisible and odorless, it is easy to ignore this potential hazard in our own homes.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium and radium break down in the soil and in rock formations. Radon gas moves up into the home through cracks in the foundation and openings around pumps, pipes and drains.

Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. The average U.S. indoor level is about 1.3 pCi/L. At 4 pCi/L, the risk of lung cancer from radon is greater than the risk from fire or other home accidents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the NJDEP recommend that action be taken to reduce radon levels if the level in the home is greater than or equal to 4 pCi/L.

Statistics from 2004 indicate that out of 2,576 homes tested for radon in Washington Township , 1,101 came back with levels above 4 pCi/L. This means that 43% of the homes tested in Washington Township have been shown to be above acceptable levels. Because radon levels vary from house to house, the only way to determine if your home exceeds the action level is to test it for radon.

Washington Township Health Department continues to offer radon kits at $10.00 per canister, which includes testing and postage. The kits are mailed by the resident directly to the testing laboratory and the results are kept anonymous.

If you have any questions, or would like to obtain additional information, please contact the Washington Township Health department at 908.876.3650