Increasing Residential Radon Testing Through Outreach to Families of Newborn Children in Pennsylvania: Evaluation of Intervention Outcomes, 2002–2023

TL;DR

A program offering free radon testing kits to new parents in Pennsylvania successfully identified homes with high radon levels, which could reduce lung cancer risks.

Contribution

The study evaluates a novel outreach strategy targeting new parents to increase residential radon testing and identifies its effectiveness and limitations.

Findings

24,165 parents of newborns requested free radon testing kits from 2002 to 2023.

42% of tested homes had elevated radon levels, with 18.2% exceeding 10 picocuries per liter.

81% of eligible hospitals adopted the program, with average costs of $29 per tested kit.

Abstract

•Parents of newborns may be especially motivated to reduce residential radon levels.•From 2002 to 2023, 24,165 parents of newborns requested free radon testing kits.•Half of parents completed testing, of whom 42% had elevated residential radon.•Radon testing and remediation among parents could benefit population health.

Parents of newborns may be especially motivated to reduce residential radon levels.

From 2002 to 2023, 24,165 parents of newborns requested free radon testing kits.

Half of parents completed testing, of whom 42% had elevated residential radon.

Radon testing and remediation among parents could benefit population health.

Few people undertake residential testing for radon, despite its known impact on lung cancer risk. Motivated by new parents’ interest in residential hazards, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Newborn Radon Testing Project distributes free radon testing vouchers to new parents. Impacts on radon testing are unknown.

The authors evaluated the Newborn Radon Testing Project (2002–2023) utilizing the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. Data came from project records as well as Pennsylvania Department of Health Birth Statistics. The authors analyzed outcomes according to Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance.

Among 3,093,704 babies delivered in Pennsylvania hospitals from 2002 to 2023, 24,165 (0.78%) parents requested radon testing kits through the project (Reach). Of these, 11,556 (47.7%) completed the kits, and 41.8% had radon above 4 picocuries per liter, including 18.2% with very elevated radon (>10.0 picocuries per liter) (Effectiveness). Among eligible hospitals, 87 of 107 (81%) partnered with the project (Adoption), and average program costs were $14,507 per year or $29 per analyzed kit (Implementation).

The Newborn Radon Testing Project holds promise for identifying homes with elevated indoor radon levels. Efforts are needed to increase participation and monitor remediation among new parents.

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