Radon
The fix starts with a low-cost test kit. It's one of the simplest health steps on this whole site.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas you can't see, smell, or taste. It seeps up from soil into homes, and long-term exposure causes lung cancer. The only way to know your level is to test.
Why it matters in Utah
- The Utah Radon Program says 1 in 3 Utah homes have elevated radon levels. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
- UGS calls radon Utah's most deadly geologic hazard, estimating about 5,630 Utah lung-cancer deaths attributable to radon from 1973 to 2015 (based on a WHO general estimate). UGS (opens source in a new tab)
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.; smoking plus radon is a particularly serious combination. UGS (opens source in a new tab) EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- EPA and the State of Utah suggest considering mitigation at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher; WHO uses 2.7 pCi/L. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab) UGS (opens source in a new tab)
Who's most affected
- Everyone. Radon levels depend on geology and how a building is built, so neighbors can have very different results. UGS (opens source in a new tab)
- People who smoke or used to smoke.
- Households that spend a lot of time in basements or ground-floor rooms.
What to do
1 Before
- Buy a low-cost test kit through the Utah Radon Program and follow its instructions. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
- Start with a short-term test. If it's high, follow up with a long-term test or a second short-term test. UGS (opens source in a new tab)
- Look up median radon levels by ZIP code on the Utah Radon Program site. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
- Renters: ask your landlord whether the unit has been tested and whether there's a mitigation system.
2 During
- If you test at 4 pCi/L or higher, contact a certified mitigator (NRPP or NRSB). Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
- Between 4 and 6 pCi/L, consider a long-term test to see your year-round level. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
3 After
- If your level is below 4 pCi/L, retest every two to five years. Utah Radon Program (opens source in a new tab)
- Retest after a mitigation system is installed and after major renovations.