On July 22, 2014, the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry released the results of an ongoing study being conducted to determine the cause of an unusually high number of local residents diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called Polycythemia Vera (PV).
While the research is ongoing, this initial report shows that some homes in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties have elevated levels of Radon gas in indoor air and Radium in soils. Researchers, at this early point in the research, were unable to determine if the cases of Polycythemia Vera in people living in the counties is related to exposure to the Radon Gas. Other counties in our service area were not part of this particular study.
“ATSDR considers the exposures to Radon gas in indoor air at these homes to be of public health concern and encourages residents living in the study area to have their homes tested” said Lora Werner, director of ATSDR Region III
At the request of ATSDR, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection collected and analyzed environmental samples within the tri-county area and ATSDR evaluated the possible health effects of exposure to the Radon and Radium in the samples.
• Without additional information, ATSDR cannot determine if the cluster of cases of PV disease in the tri-county area is related to the radiological exposures observed in the environmental sampling information.
• People in homes with high levels of Radon in their drinking water should contact the PADEP Radon Program for assistance. Home water supplies can be treated to reduce Radon levels.
Should you have higher than acceptable Radon levels in your home or rental property, please feel free to contact your local Disaster Blaster!
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