The American Lung Association and the State College Borough Health Department have joined forces to increase public awareness about the health hazards posed by radon gas.

The two groups will pool their efforts to sell radon test kits and sponsor an educational seminar. The borough received a $1,000 grant from the International City Managers Association to work with communities on public education and radon awareness.

"We have a common goal and that's public education," said Susan Fye, assistant to the director of the State College office of the American Lung Association of Central Pennsylvania.

Part of the grant money will be used for the purchase of radon test kits, Borough Health Officer Mark Henry said. A basic radon awareness seminar on May 25 also will be paid for with the grant money.

The seminar will be held at the State College Municipal Building, 118 S. Fraser St., and will be open to the public, Henry said.

Henry added the joint effort will help to reach more people in the community.

"We are now joining forces because together we can accomplish more than we can separately," Henry said.

Radon is a radioactive, cancer-causing gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil. Next to smoking, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon rises through the soil and can enter any building through cracks in its foundation. The gas builds up to high levels inside buildings, and if inhaled for a prolonged period of time, can cause lung cancer.

Because radon is colorless, odorless and tasteless, humans cannot detect the presence of the gas, Henry said, adding, "The only way to find out is to test."

Fye said homeowners should test their homes for radon levels and it is also important for schools and other privately owned buildings to be tested.

The easiest way to test is with short-term test kits, which will be sold by the borough and the American Lung Association, Henry said.

The test kit -- a cardboard box with a charcoal filter inside --should be placed in the lowest occupied level of the home. The box should sit for two to 90 days depending on the kit, then be mailed to a laboratory for analysis.

Test kits have addresses of laboratories printed on them. Once the box has been exposed to an area, homeowners should reseal the kit and send it to a lab. The lab will then mail the results back to the homeowner.

The American Lung Association has four-to-seven-day test kits available at its office in the Glennland Building, 205 E. Beaver Ave. They are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The cost of the kits, which includes the lab test and postage, is $10 plus tax.

The borough will begin selling test kits at the end of the month.