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

Tarya Pillay; Mia N Ray; Rebecca Bascom; Jennifer L Moss

doi:10.1016/j.focus.2025.100372

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

AJPM Focus. 2025 May 23;4(4):100372. doi: 10.1016/j.focus.2025.100372. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Authors

Tarya Pillay¹, Mia N Ray², Rebecca Bascom^{2

3}, Jennifer L Moss^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
² Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
³ Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: RE-AIM; Radon; lung cancer; newborn; parents; public health.