Exposing Allentown’s Invisible Health Hazard
The city of Allentown has a claim to fame among public-health experts: its high levels of radon. Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is released from rocks and can become trapped inside buildings. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. “Some houses in the Lehigh Valley have indoor radon levels higher than anywhere on the planet,” says director and professor of public health Chrysan Cronin.
Radon can be mitigated by installing a system of PVC piping and fans to draw it outside, but like many municipalities, the city of Allentown does not require building owners to test for or mitigate radon.
“It’s odorless and colorless and tasteless. Because it’s not an immediate detriment to health—it takes five or more years of exposure to cause harm—it’s often not a priority to mitigate,” says Rashida Haye ’20, a public health major and sustainability studies and sociology double minor who conducted radon research with Cronin this spring and summer.
This summer, public health student Rashida Haye ’20 and her advisor presented the radon-communication research they collaborated on to state government officials.
By: Meghan Kita Friday, August 10, 2018 04:24 PM
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Rashida Haye ’20 conducted spring and summer research on radon, a health hazard that's prevalent in the Lehigh Valley. Photos by Maddy Kirchofer ’20.
WOMEN RAISING AWARENESS
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