Free radon test kits are now available through the Allegheny County Health Department.
While supplies last, over 900 kits can be picked up between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Housing and Community Environment office — 3190 Sassafras Way.
Approximately 40% of homes across Pennsylvania are believed to have elevated radon levels. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes into homes from the ground, and when breathed in, the particles can cause radiation damage to cells.
As the gas is completely undetectable by smell, taste, sight or feel, testing regularly is the only reliable way to know if radon is present in a home. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Once radon tests are complete, they should be sent to the address included in the kit to be analyzed in a laboratory for results. Remediation for radon by a certified contractor should be completed at 4pCi/L or higher, but it is recommended for results as low as 2pCi/L, according to the EPA.
Pennsylvania residents can search for average radon test data by ZIP code online through the Department of Environmental Protection’s website. However, the presence of radon in one home of a neighborhood doesn’t indicate its presence in other homes nearby.
Allegheny County said one kit is permitted per household, and people can call ahead at 412-350-4046.
