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News & Information

Radon Testing Kits No Longer Available

Release Date: September 20, 2018

*** As of 9/20/18 we no longer have any Radon Kits until further notice ***

Note: This is an annual program and more kits will become available in 2019.

(Hamburg, NJ) The Sussex County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health is pleased to announce that all New Jersey residents are eligible to receive free radon testing kits through a joint effort with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Section. The kits were provided by the "Radon Awareness Program (RAP)" to promote testing for radon in homes. In addition to the test kits provided by the Division of Health, the DEP's Radon Section can provide a list of state-certified companies that provide testing services and radon remediation services.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a decay product of uranium. It is found in soil all over the world, but New Jersey has particularly high levels of radon due to its uranium rich natural environment. Radon gas can accumulate in enclosed places, such as homes or other buildings. However, its presence can only be detected by testing specifically for radon because the gas is invisible and has no odor. All homeowners are encouraged to test their homes for radon because long term exposure to the gas has been linked to lung cancer.

Many people are unaware that radon exposure is also a primary cause of lung cancer deaths in New Jersey. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Many cases of lung cancer can actually be prevented, especially in the case of radon.

To pick up your free kit, please visit the Sussex County Division of Health at 201 Wheatsworth Road in Hamburg, NJ. For more information about radon and the testing kits, please contact Anita DeMatteo at 973-579-0370. You can also contact the NJDEP Radon Section at 800-648-0394 or visit their website at www.njradon.org.