Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Michele Courville, 240-777-7700
For Immediate Release: November 16, 2001

Free Radon Test Kits Available;
Countywide Survey to Map Radon Levels

To determine where radon levels in the County could pose a problem, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is conducting a survey to create a database and geographic map of radon levels in homes. The first 200 residents who complete DEP’s survey form and meet eligibility requirements will receive a free radon test kit and radon information.

To be eligible for a radon kit, a resident must live in Montgomery County, have living space at ground-level or in a basement, complete the survey form, and share radon test results with DEP. Information collected will be kept strictly confidential. Participating in the Free Test Kit initiative does not obligate anyone to conduct additional testing or take any further action.

Radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating that up to 15,000 Americans die every year from long-term exposure. Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas created during the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils. It becomes a health issue when it seeps into homes through foundations and enters living areas, where it is easily inhaled. Smokers are at a higher risk; non-smokers much more readily exhale the radon particles.

It is estimated that about 35 percent of the homes in Montgomery County exceed the EPA suggested level of radon. Due to geological formations, some areas routinely test higher for radon, particularly Germantown, Boyds, Clarksburg, Colesville, Sandy Spring, and Rockville -- although radon has been detected throughout the County. Results from house to house in the same neighborhood can vary widely because cracks or flaws in foundations, improperly vented sump pumps, tighter insulation, and other causes contribute to radon exposure. If higher than recommended radon levels are detected, steps can be taken to vent the gas from homes and reduce exposure risks.

For more information on obtaining a radon test kit, the survey, and more information on radon, check DEP’s website at www.askDEP.com, or call 240-777-7700. To find out more about radon, call the National Radon Hotline at 800-767-7236, or to correct a radon problem, call 800-644-6999.