The American Lung Association is calling for increased radon testing in Pennsylvania . Exposure to the naturally occurring , odorless , tasteless gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers , according to the Environmental Protection Agency .
Pennsylvania buildings are prone to radon contamination ; an estimated 40 % of homes in the state have high levels of the gas , according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection .
In its 2023 annual State of Lung Cancer report , the American Lung Association ranked Pennsylvania poorly among other states for its radon levels .
“ While most people think lung cancer is something that happens because of smoking , radon exposure , poor air quality , and genetics all play into that ,” said Aimee VanCleave , an advocacy director with the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania .
People can protect themselves by testing for radon in homes and buildings , and by installing mitigation systems if radon levels are high . However , VanCleave said public schools in Pennsylvania do not test for radon as frequently as they should , and she calls for legislation to improve testing statewide . Several times over the past decade , legislation requiring radon testing in Pennsylvania schools has stalled .
According to a 2018 study by Healthy Schools PA , only 31 % of surveyed schools in the state tested for radon .
“ We ’ re sending our children to a place where we don ’ t know if they are being exposed to radon , because it ’ s naturally occurring , but it is colorless , odorless , and tasteless ,” VanCleave said .
In a statement , a spokesman for the state ’ s Department of Education said the Shapiro administration “ strongly encourages ” all schools to test for radon , and take advantage of resources offered by the DEP to ensure the safety of students and staff .