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Berks NAACP representative encourages radon testing

Date Published: 02/20/2020 [Source]

Dennis Williams, the health chairperson of the Reading branch of the NAACP, is encouraging Berks County residents to test their homes for radon.

Williams, who appeared at the county commissioners' weekly meeting on Thursday, said Pennsylvania has one of the most serious radon problems in the country, with approximately 40% of homes having radon levels above federal protection agency guidelines.

Radon, which is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that comes from decomposing uranium. It is a carcinogen that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, killing more than 21,000 Americans every year, according to Williams.

Symptoms of radon exposure include shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weakness, and fatigue, however, because it is a slow carcinogen, it can take 15-20 years for symptoms to appear, which is often too late.

"No matter where you live in Berks County, protect yourself and your loved ones," Williams said. "Do a home radon test."