SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ – Sussex County Division of Health is offering free radon testing kits to Sussex County residents.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a decay product of uranium. It is found in soil all over the world, but New Jersey has particularly high levels of radon due to its uranium rich natural environment.
Radon gas can accumulate in enclosed places, such as homes or other buildings. However, its presence can only be detected by testing specifically for radon because the gas is invisible and has no odor.
All homeowners are encouraged to test their homes for radon because long-term exposure to the gas has been linked to lung cancer.
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. Many people are unaware that radon exposure is also a primary cause of lung cancer deaths in New Jersey.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, resulting in 15,000 to 22,000 deaths per year. Many cases of lung cancer can actually be prevented, especially in the case of radon.
Sussex County residents are eligible to receive one free radon testing kit per household through a joint effort by the Sussex County Division of Health and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Section.
The kits are funded by the Radon Awareness Program to promote testing for radon in homes. In addition to the test kits, the DEP’s Radon Section can provide a list of state-certified companies that provide testing services, home testing kits, and companies that provide radon remediation services.
A limited supply of test kits will be available for distribution on a first come, first served basis at the Sussex County Division of Health located at 201 Wheatsworth Road in Hardyston, NJ 07419.
For more information on radon and the testing kits, please contact Julia Gurriell at the Sussex County Division of Health at 973-579-0370, extension 1243. You can also contact the NJDEP Radon Section at 800-648-0394 or visit their website at www.njradon.org.
