A new U.S. Geological Survey study has discovered high levels of radon in wells across certain areas of Pennsylvania.

Radon – which is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas – primarily contaminates indoor air when the gas seeps through the soil under homes and buildings, but groundwater can be a notable indoor air radon source in areas where groundwater has extreme radon concentrations. Radon dissolved in groundwater used for drinking water can escape into the air as the water leaves a faucet, which adds to any radon that enters a structure through foundation cracks. Homeowners with private wells should be aware of radon’s potential health risks because, according to the EPA, radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

[link to www.usgs.gov (secure)]