Radon gas is a radioactive, cancer causing gas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that any radon exposure can increase your risk of contracting lung cancer. So while there is no safe level of radon gas, the lower the level, the safer the home.
Radon is naturally occuring and accounts for up to 70% of the radiation that we are exposed to here in Utah. It comes from the decay of uranium in soil. All soil, which means it can be found in any home no matter what neighborhood. Radon enters the home through the foundation, construction joins, etc. so new or old, a house can have radon. 1 in 3 homes in Utah have high radon levels. It is important that you test your home as that is the only way to determine if your home has radon.
Although there is no "safe" level of radon gas, there are "action levels" set by the EPA and World Health Organization to use as a guideline. The EPA recommends that you take action (or install a mitigation system) if your home tests at 4 pCi/L or above. However, the WHO actually states that the risk of contracting lung cancer is greater if your home is above 2.7 pCi/L.
While there is no safe level of radon gas for your home, there are definitely unacceptable levels. If your home is above 4.0, we recommend immediate mitigation. Between 2.7-4.0 we would still recommend it as per the World Health Organization.
The first step is to test your home for radon gas. Utah Radon Services offers free residential radon testing. The process is simple, just fill out the form on this page or give us a call at 801-871-0715 to request your test today.
If you have discovered or are worried about a radon problem in your home, you may be looking into methods to reduce radon. There are several radon reduction techniques available to you, but we should first review why radon reduction is important. What Is radon gas and why is it dangerous? As uranium in soil […]
Radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. In the United States, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have strong stances about radon […]
Radon mitigation systems can be installed in a house to reduce radon levels, but what about condos and townhomes? Before we get into the details, let’s first understand what radon is and how it enters a home. What Is Radon? Radon gas is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that occurs when uranium in soil decays. This […]
