BREWSTER, NY—Radon, an invisible, odorless gas, is a common environmental hazard in Putnam County. In wintertime, the risk of exposure increases because people spend more time inside and seal up their homes to keep the cold out. The good news is that home test kits are easy to use and readily available. They are available for $12.25 from the New York State Department of Health here: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radon/. They are also available for purchase at most home repair and improvement stores for $10 to $20.

Undetectable without testing, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers. For people who smoke, it is a dangerous combination, raising the risk of lung cancer by 10 times, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Unfortunately, radon is nearly everywhere to varying degrees because it occurs in the environment naturally. It is present in rocks, soil, and water, from the radioactive decay of uranium or thorium in the soil.

“Unfortunately, lung cancer often doesn’t cause immediate symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms such as a cough begin it may be more advanced,” explains Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, interim health commissioner.

Putnam County has been designated a “Red Zone 1” area because it is considered at highest risk for elevated indoor radon by the Environmental Protection Agency, known as the EPA. A Red-Zone-1 label indicates that the predicted average indoor radon screening levels are greater than 4pCi/L, or 4 picocuries per liter of air. This is the level above which the EPA recommends taking some corrective action to lower the level. Things can be done to fix the issue and costs vary depending on how involved the necessary work is.

Homes today can be constructed to be more radon resistant, but all homes, new and old, should have an initial test and then be tested again every two to five years. Each home is different: one may have higher radon levels, while just next door the levels are within safe limits. Only a home test, typically set up in a basement area and left for a few days, can determine if radon has made its way inside. Routes of entry are not always obvious. They may include cracks in the foundation or concrete slab, exposed soil, loose-fitting pipes, or water. If radon has been identified as an issue in the home and a radon reduction system is in place, the NYS Department of Health recommends testing every two years to make sure it is working properly.  

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the County website at www.putnamcountyny.gov, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY. 

For more information about radon and its risks, visit:

NYS Department of Health website:
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radon/
(Multiple languages available.)

Centers for Disease Control website:
https://www.cdc.gov/radon/index.html (English)
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/nceh/especiales/radon/index.html (Spanish)