COUNTY – The Union County Board of County Commissioners, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Radon Program, has announced that March is designated Radon Action Month. Beginning this March, the County of Union will provide free radon test kits and share information on radon safety and awareness with residents.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium and radium break down in the soil and rock formations. It is invisible and odorless. Radon gas moves up through the soil and finds its way into homes through cracks in the foundation and openings around pumps, pipes, and drains.

Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. The average U.S. indoor level is 1.3 pCi/L. At 4 pCi/L, the risk of lung cancer from radon is greater than the risk from fire or other home accidents. The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency and the DEP recommend that action be taken to reduce radon levels if the level in the home is greater than or equal to 4 pCi/L.

Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive. Certified radon measurement businesses provide testing services or do-it-yourself test kits. Test kits can also be obtained from many hardware stores, home improvement stores, or by contacting the Union County Department of Public Safety, Division of Health at (908) 518-5620 or (908) 654-9730.

If the test indicates a radon problem, radon mitigation systems can be installed at a cost similar to other home repairs.

For more information on radon or how to receive your free test kit, contact the Union County Department of Public Safety, Division of Health at (908) 518-5620 or (908) 654-9730.

For more information about the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Radon Program, call (800) 648-0394 or visit www.njradon.org.