January 4, 2019 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Borough of Pompton Lakes Initiates Radon Awareness Program
Mayor Serra announced today that the Borough of Pompton Lakes will cooperate with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Section in a special radon awareness program to promote testing for radon in homes.
Mayor Serra explained that “We are pleased to cooperate with the DEP in this program to ensure that all residents are aware of the need to test homes and reduce radon levels where necessary. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Radon testing is easy and problems can be fixed.”
The Borough of Pompton Lakes has a limited number of free test kits available to residents on a first-come, first-served basis. These kits are available through the Health Department, contact 973-835-0143 ext. 235 to check on availability.
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium breaks down in the soil and in rock formations. Small amounts of uranium are found in nearly all soils and rocks. Radon gas moves up through the soil and finds its way into homes through cracks in the foundation and openings around sump pumps, pipes and drains.
High radon levels are associated with a greater risk of lung cancer. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer resulting in approximately 21,000 deaths in the United States per year. It is recommended that homes be mitigated if they have radon concentrations of 4 pCi/L or more.
There is truly no “safe” level of radon since lung cancer can result from very low exposures to radon, however, the risk decreases as the radon concentration decreases. Homeowners who tested in the past and found low levels of radon may wish to retest to determine if radon concentrations may have changed, due to changes in air flow within the house from new additions or other renovations, or due to new construction nearby that may have caused changes in local geology.
In addition to the test kits provided by the Borough of Pompton Lakes, the DEP’s Radon Section at (800)648-0394 or www.njradon.org can provide a list of state-certified companies that provide testing services or do-it-yourself test kits, as well as companies that provide radon remediation services.
For more information on radon, contact the Borough of Pompton Lakes at (973)835-0143 ext. 235 or the DEP Radon Section at (800)648-0394 or www.njradon.org.