Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the winners of the 2025 Pennsylvania Student Radon Poster Contest and continues to encourage Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon as part of the department’s ongoing National Radon Action Month outreach.
First place in the 2025 Pennsylvania Student Radon Poster Contest went to Regan Schall, a seventh-grade student at North Hills Middle School, whose poster will be entered into a national student radon poster contest. Audrey Rau, a ninth-grade student at Monroe Career and Technical Institute, earned second place. And David Culp, a fourth-grade student at Pittston Area Intermediate Center, earned third place.
“We want to thank all the students who participated in this year’s Student Radon Poster Contest,” said DEP Radon Program Manager Bob Lewis. “We’re pleased to include these winning posters as part of our radon educational outreach to Pennsylvanians in 2025.”
Winners of the 2025 Pennsylvania Student Radon Poster Contest are also helping DEP educate Pennsylvanians about the importance of testing their homes for the radioactive gas. Posters were judged by DEP staff on subject matter accuracy and other criteria.
Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that enters homes from the ground as a result of the breakdown of uranium and radium in rocks and soil.
“Around 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have higher levels of radon gas than federal guidelines consider safe. However, every Pennsylvanian should take radon awareness seriously, as it poses significant potential health risks. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking,” DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley said. “What makes radon particularly concerning is that you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. There are no symptoms to alert you to its presence in the home. That is why every Pennsylvanian should ensure their families are safe and test for radon.”
Pennsylvania is particularly prone to elevated radon levels, and the only way homeowners can know for certain if they have a radon problem is to test their home. DEP recommends that all homes, public and private buildings get tested. The best time to test is during the colder months, when homes and buildings are closed and radon is most likely to be trapped and build up to higher levels.
Radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year in the U.S., according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and about 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). While radon problems may be more common in some regions, there is potential for any home to have high radon levels.
Radon test kits are also available at many home improvement and hardware stores, as well as from Pennsylvania-certified radon laboratories. Radon test kits typically cost approximately $20-$30. Completed test kits are sent to a Pennsylvania-certified lab where the sample is analyzed, and the results are sent to the home or building owner. Homeowners are also able to hire a state-certified radon testing company to do the testing for them. The public is encouraged to call DEP’s Radon Division at 717-783-3594, or the Radon Hotline at 800-237-2366, for help with interpretation of their test results and what follow-up action may be necessary.
Permanent radon mitigation systems typically cost between $800 and $1,200 and require minimal maintenance. A list of state-certified radon contractors, labs, and testers is available on DEP’s website. The list is also available by calling 1-800-23-RADON.
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