Your Body Almanac

Pennsylvania

Most counties in EPA's top radon zone, and plenty of Lyme ticks.

Most Pennsylvania counties sit in EPA's highest radon zone, and it is a high-incidence state for Lyme disease. Winters bring a low sun that makes little vitamin D.

01

High radon in many homes

Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from soil and rock into homes, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don't smoke. EPA's map puts most Pennsylvania counties in Zone 1, its highest-risk category. A home test is cheap, and fixes are well established.

SourcesPennsylvania — EPA Map of Radon Zones (EPA)Radon in the Home (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection)Health risk of radon (EPA)
Test your home for radonAs neededRadon is invisible and odorless, so a simple test is the only way to know your level. Fix it at 4 pCi/L or higher.
02

Ticks and Lyme disease

Pennsylvania is one of the states CDC classifies as high-incidence for Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks live in woods, tall grass and leaf litter across the state. Untreated Lyme can affect joints, the heart and nerves.

SourcesAbout Lyme Disease (CDC)Surveillance for Lyme Disease After Implementation of a Revised Case Definition — United States, 2022 (CDC MMWR)Lyme disease (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
Check for ticksAs neededAfter time in grass or woods, check your whole body, shower within two hours and dry your clothes on high heat. Use insect repellentAs neededUse an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin when mosquitoes or ticks are around.
03

Weak winter sun and vitamin D

Your skin makes vitamin D from the sun's UVB rays, and the winter sun sits low. A classic study found no vitamin D made in skin from winter sunlight in Boston (42 degrees north) from November through February, while sunlight at 34 degrees north still worked. Pennsylvania sits just south of Boston's latitude, so winter sun is a weak source and food matters more.

SourcesVitamin D — Health Professional Fact Sheet (NIH ODS)Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3 (Webb et al., 1988, PubMed)
Get vitamin D from foodDailyEat fatty fish, fortified milk and UV-exposed mushrooms so you are not relying on the sun alone. Ask your doctor about vitamin DYearlyIf you get little sun or few vitamin D foods, ask at your checkup whether testing or a supplement makes sense for you.

When to see a professional

See a doctor for an expanding rash, fever, facial droop or joint swelling after a tick bite. Tell your doctor about long-term radon exposure, especially if you smoke or used to.