Moscow sits in EPA Zone 1, the highest risk classification for radon exposure in Pennsylvania. This small borough in Lackawanna County faces elevated radon levels due to its unique position on the edge of the Pocono Plateau, where ancient geological forces created uranium-rich bedrock formations that continue to release radon gas today.
The area's Catskill and Pocono formations contain naturally occurring uranium deposits that formed over 350 million years ago during the Devonian period. As uranium-238 slowly decays over millennia, it produces radium-226, which further decays into radon-222 gas. This invisible, odorless, radioactive gas migrates upward through fractured bedrock and glacial till - sediment deposited during the last ice age - creating multiple pathways for radon to enter Moscow homes through foundation cracks, sump pumps, utility penetrations, and gaps around basement windows.
Moscow's position near Lake Lorain and surrounding rural areas compounds the risk. The borough sits at approximately 1,600 feet elevation on glacially-scoured terrain where bedrock lies close to the surface. The area's varied topography creates pockets where radon concentrations can spike dramatically. Properties built on bedrock outcrops or areas with shallow soil depth over fractured rock face particularly high radon levels, often measuring 2-3 times the EPA action level.
Unlike the anthracite coal mining regions in nearby Luzerne County, Moscow's radon challenge stems primarily from natural geological processes rather than mining disruption. However, this makes the risk no less severe - the direct contact with uranium-bearing bedrock creates consistent radon emission that affects both older homes and new construction throughout the Moscow area.
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