GUEST COLUMN
By Francesca Calderone-Steichen
Do you know your IAQ? It’s easy. IAQ stands for Indoor Air Quality.
Here in Hopewell Valley, homeowners should know their IAQ because some parts of Hopewell Valley have high radon levels. Lowering radon to safe levels helps you stay healthy, protects your children, and even makes it possible for you to sell your home, since homes with high radon levels cannot be sold until the radon problem has been fixed, or remediated.
Age and price range have nothing to do with radon levels. An older modest home can have low levels of radon. A large new home can have high radon levels. In fact, some newer homes, which are more energy efficient and air tight, may actually have higher radon levels than older "leakier" homes. There is simply no way to tell until you test.
What is Radon and what does it do? Radon is a radioactive, invisible, odorless gas. It comes from the naturally occurring uranium that is part of the earth’s soil, and in some parts of the country it can accumulate indoors to dangerous levels. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related.
Radon zones The EPA and the US Geological Survey have evaluated the radon potential for all 3,141 counties across the United States. In New Jersey, seven counties, including Mercer, are among those considered "Highest Potential" areas. This does not mean that everyone in Mercer County has a radon problem. It does mean that all homes in Mercer County should be tested, to help homeowners make prudent decisions about remediation if high radon levels are found.
Testing homes for radon Simple inexpensive do-it-yourself radon test kits are always available commercially or through the Hopewell Township Health Department. The EPA recommends that homes with levels of 4 picocuries or more of radon be remediated, to prevent the accumulation of radon gas indoors.
Remediation measures Remediation experts mitigate radon levels by installing ventilation systems, sealing openings and cracks, and/or covering exposed earth. Once installed, retests should be performed every two years to ensure that the mitigation system is still working properly.
Free Radon test kits As part of a yearlong radon awareness campaign, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is helping local health departments conduct special radon education programs. The Hopewell Township Health Department will present a program on April 1, from 7-9 p.m. in the Hopewell Township Municipal Auditorium at 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road. There will be two guest speakers, and free radon kits will be given out to all program participants. Registration is required. To register, or for further information, call the Hopewell Township Health Department at 737-0120, ext. 636.