FEATURE — Most people know that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. What some may not know is that the second leading cause of lung cancer is radon gas. Southwest Utah residence should take some time to place radon on their healthy living radar by learning what radon is and how we can protect ourselves from it.
Radon gas is a naturally occurring byproduct of uranium decomposition. This gas is radioactive and can be harmful with prolonged exposure at certain levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes over 20,000 deaths each year. Unlike smoking, radon is more of a hidden danger because it is invisible, odorless and tasteless.
How much radon gas in the house is too much exposure?
The EPA recommends reducing the levels of radon in homes to less than 4 picocuries per liter. The national average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outdoor air. The levels in Utah houses are very different from city to city and from county to county. There can even be different levels in homes that are right next door to each other.
For this reason, homeowners should test to find out what the radon level is in their own dwelling. Homeowners should take at least an initial sample to find out if their home has a radon level greater than 4 pCi/L.
A short-term test is a good start. This test is usually simple and inexpensive. There are several types of short-term tests that can be purchased online or at your local home improvement store. Utah residence can order a reduced price $10.95 test kit online by visiting deq.utah.gov/radon and clicking the “order radon test kit” link. Conducting a second test may provide greater peace of mind to ensure that a home has radon levels below the standard.
Make sure to perform at least one of the tests in the winter as radon levels tend to be higher in the winter months. Homeowners with high radon levels may need to take action to fix their homes. Several techniques can be used to reduce radon levels, including hiring a residential medication provider that has been approved by the state of Utah. Any listing can be found on the same website mentioned above by clicking the “certified mitigators” link.
Written by SHALLEN STERNER, environmental health scientist.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2021 issue of HEALTH Magazine.