Radon Action Month

Local municipalities throughout Somerset County have designated January as Radon
Action Month in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Radon Program. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas formed
from the breakdown of uranium and radon in rocks and soil. It can build up in homes and
get into the air we breathe. Radon and its decay products release radioactive energy that
can damage lung tissue. The more radon you are exposed to, and the longer the
exposure, the greater the risk of eventually developing lung cancer. Radon is the second
leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Testing your home for radon is easy and homes with high levels of radon can be easily
mitigated. The Hillsborough Health Department has applied for the Radon Test Grant
through the NJDEP, and once it is approved, we will continue to distribute free radon test
kits to residents on a first come, first served basis. Only one kit per residence will be
distributed. Instructions are included. Results will come to the resident only, not the
health department. Kits will most likely be available by mid to late February. Please call
the Health Department to verify that kits are available before visiting the office.
If you live in a house that was never tested and was built before 1992, these kits will help
you to determine your risk and which prevention system, if any, is necessary. If you are
selling your house, this test will not satisfy the radon test requirement, but it can be
helpful to test before the sale to be aware of the level of radon present. You can also test
to make sure your radon removal system is in good working order.

RADON IN THE HOME

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas caused by the natural decay of uranium found in
soil. Due to the high uranium content found in the soils in Somerset County, houses in
Hillsborough Township have the potential to have high levels of radon, but not every home will
have high levels of radon- not even homes in the same neighborhood.

Why is Radon Dangerous?

Since radon is radioactive, it is labeled a “Class A” Carcinogen. It is both invisible and odorless.
Radon is the second leading cause of Lung Cancer in the US and is responsible for between
15,000- 20,000 deaths per year.

How Does Radon Get Into My House?

Naturally occurring radon gas enters your house primarily through cracks and openings in the
foundation of your home. Once inside, the gas is contained and can build to dangerous levels.

Who Should Test For Radon?

If your house was built prior to 1992, you should test your house for radon at least once. Houses
built in Hillsborough Township after 1992 were required to be tested and built with a radon
system regardless of radon levels found. It is not necessary to continually test for radon as the
amount that enters your home does not change dramatically over time. However, there are
times that retesting is advised. Please see the recommendations of the NJ Department of
Environmental Protection at www.nj.gov/dep/rpp/radon/download/mitbas.pdf for further
information about radon testing and mitigation.

How Do I Test My House For Radon?

Testing for Radon is a fairly inexpensive and simple task. Test kits are readily available at most
home improvement stores for about $30. Make sure the kit has a NJ certification number on it
that begins with MEB9 plus 4 digits, and follow instructions carefully. There are short and
long-term kits. The short-term kits are simply opened and left to sit at the lowest level of your
home(i.e. basement) for 2 to 4 days. Radon particles that enter your home during this time
collect in the test kit. The kit is then sealed and mailed to a laboratory, which will analyze the kit
and mail you the results. Please see the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
radon information about testing at:
www.nj.gov/dep/rpp/radon/download/mitbas.pdf .

What Do I Do If My House Has Radon?

The good news about radon is that it is fairly easy to get rid of. Radon mitigation companies can
install a system in your house that will draw the air from under your house and expel it outside
where it is quickly diluted by the air to safe levels. These systems vary in price but are
approximately $1500 to install.
For more information, please see the above links and also:
www.njradon.org- the radon home page for NJ- includes a list of places to get testing done or
kits to do it yourself.
www.epa.gov/radon for general radon information
Or CALL the NJDEP INFORMATION LINE AT: 1-800-648-0394