Somerset County Offering Free Radon Kits to County Residents
Department of Health Encourages Residents to Reduce the Risk of Naturally Occurring Cancer Causing Gas through Awareness and Testing
Post Date: 03/27/2023 3:27 PM
SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH) is offering County residents free radon detection kits in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Radon Program. The SCDOH is committed to spreading awareness about radon to reduce the rates of lung cancer through radon exposure where residents live, work, and congregate.
“In order to protect your family from the dangers of radon gas, it is vital to test basements and enclosed spaces about every two years, and to work to reduce levels if necessary,” said Somerset County Commissioner Doug Singleterry. “There’s no way to tell if radon is in your home without performing a test, and we encourage every resident to test their home to be sure they are protected.”
Radon is an odorlessThe Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH) is offering County residents free radon detection kits in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Radon Program., tasteless, and invisible gas that is in the ground naturally, and sometimes seeps into homes through cracks in the floor or walls. Radon can build up in the air in any home or building, whether it has a basement, or is a new or old structure. Over time, breathing in high radon levels can cause lung cancer, and there are no known safe levels of radon exposure.
Having homes tested is the only effective way to determine whether there is a risk of high radon exposure, and whether remediation is needed to protect the residents. To assist residents with testing their homes for radon, the SCDOH is providing a limited number of radon kits to county residents on a first-come, first-served basis. County residents can pick up a free radon test kit Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Somerset County Department of Health located at 27 Warren St., Somerville. Proof of Somerset County residency is required.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after cigarette smoking. Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
- How much radon is in your home and the location where you spend most of your time in your home (e.g., the main living and sleeping areas).
- The amount of time you spend in your home.
- If you are a smoker or have ever smoked.
- Whether you burn wood, coal or other substances that add particles to the indoor air.
For more information about radon, visit https://www.epa.gov/radon.
The Somerset County Department of Health is dedicated to fostering healthy lifestyles and safe environments for residents in our communities. To contact the SCDOH, call 908-231-7155 or email HealthDept@co.somerset.nj.us.
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