In an essential public health initiative, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has identified Evans City Borough as a critical area for its Targeted Radon Survey this year. This campaign, led in collaboration with the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania (ALAPA), aims to elevate radon awareness and encourage testing in selected municipalities. Evans City Borough’s inclusion is based on historical radon test data and its geological propensity for higher radon occurrences.
For over two decades, the PADEP has employed this targeted strategy, focusing on regions with a noted potential for radon issues. The American Lung Association has been granted funds to distribute a limited quantity of free radon test kits to the residents of these municipalities to support this endeavor.
Radon, a naturally occurring but harmful radioactive gas, is invisible and odorless, making it a silent threat that can lead to about 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually across the nation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With Pennsylvania reporting some of the highest radon levels in the country and Evans City Borough showing values above the Commonwealth’s average, the need for testing is imperative. This initiative underscores that any building in contact with the ground could be at risk for radon exposure, with testing being the sole method to ascertain safety levels.
The campaign also aligns with PADEP and ALAPA’s experience in managing similar targeted surveys and community-based programs intended to ramp up public action against this potential health hazard. Residents interested in receiving a free radon test kit can easily apply by visiting www.lungradonkits.org/pa and entering their Zip Code. Upon request and while supplies last, a test kit from a DEP certified laboratory, complete with instructions, return postage, and laboratory analysis, will be dispatched to applicants.
Council is encouraging residents to use this free testing opportunity to ensure their homes are safe from radon. For further assistance on test kit placement or result interpretation, Denise Bleiler or Robert Lewis can be contacted at 1.800.237.2366 or 717.783.3594. Additionally, the American Lung Association is available for lung health inquiries at 1.800.586.4872 or 717.541.5864, reaffirming the collaborative effort to safeguard public health against radon exposure in Pennsylvania.
