Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – Radon Mitigation

What is Radon – Bethlehem

Radon is a naturally occurring chemical element found in the environment. At the normal range of the Earth’s temperatures, radon is in a gaseous form that cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. Most homes have some level of radon in them, not just in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but also throughout the world.

Describing Radon Levels

A unit of measurement called picoCuries per liter is used for describing radon levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes guidelines for safe levels of radon in Bethlehem and throughout the rest of the United States. As long as radon levels remain equal to or less than 4.0 picoCuries per liter, the EPA usually does not recommend taking any action. At higher levels, radon has the potential to cause health problems and needs to be mitigated to ensure that your home in Bethlehem is safe for your family.

Radon in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, radon is found in areas that contain deposits of rocks bearing radium and uranium. Both Lehigh and Northampton counties lie over such deposits, which break down due to the natural effects of weathering and erosion. As a result, radon gas is released into the soil beneath homes in Bethlehem and throughout the rest of the region.

Groundwater supplies in the Bethlehem area are also to blame for increased radon levels. This makes residents who rely on wells rather than treated city water more likely to have high radon levels in their homes. Radon enters the water in wells from granite and quartz rocks that contain uranium and radium and is then carried into Bethlehem area homes through the plumbing.

EPA’s High Radon Potential Zones

The EPA establishes certain regions in the Untied States as “High Radon Potential Zones” based upon their geology, and Bethlehem lies in one such area. A private radon monitoring company tested radon levels throughout northeastern Pennsylvania and found that homes in both Lehigh and Northampton counties had an average of more than 3 times the action level for radon gas recommended by the EPA. As a result, Bethlehem residents have reason to be concerned about the potential effects of the gas in their homes.

Health Risks

Breathing in air contaminated with elevated levels of radon gas can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Among nonsmokers, radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer throughout Bethlehem and the rest of the United States. Radon is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Bethlehem residents at a high risk for lung cancer due to other health problems or family history are particularly susceptible to the effects of radon.

Health problems from exposure to excessive levels of radon gas do not happen overnight. Homeowners in Bethlehem can purchase home testing kits for radon levels at local hardware centers and home improvement stores, but should use caution to only purchase kits approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Finding out that your home has elevated radon levels is the first step toward eliminating the threat of this potentially deadly gas.