Harold N. Adel, MD, MPH
Commissioner
Department of Health
Andrew J. Spano
County Executive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
December 16, 1999 Contact Mary Landrigan
(914) 637-4715
NEW RADON MAPS FOR OUR AREA
The Westchester County Department of Health today announced that the New York State Department of Health has released maps of radon levels across the state. Approximately 3% of the homes tested in Westchester over a course of a year were above the state guidelines.
Dr. Harold N. Adel, Westchester County Health Commissioner noted that indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation. The National Academy of Sciences recently estimated that 12 percent of lung cancers in the US are caused by breathing indoor radon.
"Residents of Westchester are encouraged to have their homes tested for radon," stated Dr. Adel. "This is the simplest way of determining whether you and your family are at risk from radon in your home. If radon is found, there are methods of remediating the problem," he continued.
Inexpensive detection kits are available from the New York State Department of Health. Anyone who wants to
purchase a kit, which costs $6.25, is encouraged to call the Radon Hotine at 1-800-458-1158. Order forms for the detector kits are also available on the Westchester County Department of Health website, www.westchestergov.com/health along with the Westchester County radon maps.
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soil. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into the home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
Radon gets into homes through:
Cracks in solid floors
Construction joints
Cracks in walls
Gaps in suspended floors
Gaps around service pipes
Cavities inside walls
The water supply
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following testing steps be taken to test your house for radon:
1. Conduct a short-term test, using a test kit that meets EPA requirements. If the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, perform a follow-up test to be sure.
2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
For a better understanding or your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test. A long-term test is generally more than 90 days.
If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
If the result of the long-term test is 4 pCi/L or more, it is advised that you contact the New York State Health Department Radon Hotline at 1-800-458-1158 to obtain consultation, EPA literature, and recommendations regarding contractors that will help you get the radon in your home reduced.
If you followed up with a second short-term test, the higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4pCi/L or higher.
The New York State Department of Health has been conducting measurements of radon levels in homes in New
York State since 1986 and has prepared the maps for each county in New York State showing the estimated percent of homes with greater than 4 pCi/L indoor radon.
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. Since there is no known safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. A variety of methods are used to reduce radon in your home. In some cases, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to
reduce radon. Lowering high radon levels often requires the technical knowledge and skills of a state-certified contractor who is listed in EPA’s Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program.
For more information, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, visit the Health Department website at www.westchestergov.com/health or call the Radon Hotline at 1-800-458-1158.
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