About the Radon Section

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Section conducts outreach activities to educate the public on the risks of radon and how homes can be remediated. These activities include formal educational slide presentations on radon awareness, participation in exhibits and conventions.

A toll-free information line, (800) 648-0394, is maintained to provide information to the public on testing procedures and mitigation techniques. Free information packets are available upon request. The Radon Section has established regulations for the certification of radon measurement and mitigation businesses and their technical staffs to ensure high quality radon services. By law, all companies conducting radon testing and mitigations in New Jersey must be certified by the DEP.

General Information

• An introduction to radon: what it is and where it is found
• Radon Leaders Saving Lives - Free Web Portal
• 2012 National Radon Poster Contest
• January - National Radon Action Month
• Radon FAQ
• New Jersey Radon Program Facts

Radon Causes Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers and Smokers Alike

Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. The untimely deaths of Peter Jennings and Dana Reeve have raised public awareness about lung cancer, especially among people who have never smoked. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for radon.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon. Visit www.cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html for more on a study by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.