National Radon Action Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories 1-800-344-9977

PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY’S HEALTH IN THEIR HOMES
RADON – A SILENT KILLER
Citizens Urged to Test Homes for Radon, the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in U.S.

Leominster, MA — Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to protect their homes and families. In our community, ETR Labs is promoting awareness about the importance of testing during National Radon Action Month in January.

Radon is present at elevated levels in about 24 % of homes throughout the state. Worcester County has the highest rates of elevated radon levels indoors. Thirty eight (38%) of homes in Worcester County have levels of 4 pCi/L or higher. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but which can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. Scientists have long been concerned about the health risks of radon, but never before has there been such overwhelming proof that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Radon is the leading second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. “However,” says Eric Koslowski, Lab Director from ETR Labs, “because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to downplay the health effects and ignore the possibility that there might be a silent killer in their homes.”

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. Radon test kits can be purchased at local hardware and home improvement stores or directly from radon testing companies. Many are priced under $25.00. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $800 to about $2,500).

ETR Labs urges Massachusetts residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for radon. Radon poses a serious threat to our community’s health but there is a straightforward solution. For more information on radon and radon testing, call ETR Labs at 1-800-344-9977 or visit our Web site at www.etrlabs.com, or visit EPA’s National Radon Action Month Web site at www.epa.gov/radon/nram.