Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. One out of every three homes in Utah contains more than 4 picoCuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/L). That is the EPA recommended action level, but lower levels can still pose a health hazard. The only way to know if your home contains radon is to test for it. Radon gas is odorless and colorless. Over time it is deadly. The good news is that the test is inexpensive and correcting a radon problem is fairly easy.
What is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas released by uranium-bearing granite deposits in the soil. It is virtually everywhere, in very low levels, but in structures it can collect and concentrate.
Radon is not something that you will notice in the air. You cannot see it or smell it and it does not cause irritation or other acute symptoms. The only known health risk associated with radon exposure is lung cancer.
Radon Risk in Your Home
There are many myths about radon, and the risk factors for having high radon level in your home. The truth is that it does not matter if your home is old or new, and you can’t go by whether your neighbors have a radon problem or not. The only way to find out if your home contains radon is to test for it. You can hire a professional, but that is not necessary.
You can purchase a kit to test for radon yourself. It is very inexpensive and easy to do. Make sure you buy a test that meets EPA requirements. There are two types of tests. The short term test only takes two or three days, and you can get results quickly. The long term test lasts 90 days, but it gives you a more accurate measure of the year-round radon level in your home.
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