Acting Governor Richard J. Codey has procalimed January as Radon Action Month – an opportune time for citizens to test for radon in their homes. Because families are spending more time indoors during the winter months, January is a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, and odorless gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (smoking is the first).
The EPA estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. As many as 500 radon-related deaths occur in New Jersey. Radon occurs naturally from the decay of uranium in the soil and can accumulate to dangerous levels inside homes. Simple, inexpensive do-it-yourself radon test kits can be used to determine the level of radon gas in your home. In the next edition of The Bridge.there will be an article about radon and the availability of radon test kits at the Township Building.
The DEP and EPA recommend fixing homes where radon test results reveal concentrations of 4 picocuries per liter or higher. The DEP continues to work with state and local partners to educate the public about the dangers of radon exposure.