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Radon is a dangerous radioactive gas that comes from uranium in the ground. It's the luck of the draw which Utah homes have high radon and which homes don’t. 1/3 of Utah homes test above 4.0 pCi/L (picolitres) which is the EPA's action level. What about the other 2/3 houses that tested below 4.0? Unfortunately, there is no safe level of radon. The EPA encourages you to still consider fixing your home when the radon levels are above 2.0. The WHO (The World Health Organization) recommends radon mitigation if your home’s radon level is 2.7 or above. Consumerreports.org
Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family's risk of lung cancer.
The EPA says that if your home tests at 2.0 pCi/L, you have the same risk of cancer from radon exposure compared to the risk of dying from poison if you are a non-smoker. They also suggest you should strongly consider radon mitigation if your levels are 2.0 pCi/L and above. A big part of this decision is based on the usage of the home. A home with an unfinished basement of 2.0 that no one spends time in is very different risk than a home with a finished basement with kid's bedrooms.
Your risk of lung cancer increases substantially with exposure to higher radon levels. Lung cancer risk rises 16% per 2.7 pCi/L increase in radon exposure.
The EPA estimates that over 21,000 people die each year from the effects of radon. 70% of those deaths were people who lived in homes that are lower than 4.0 pCi/L.
The EPA estimates that a reduction of radon levels to below 2.0 pCi/L nationwide would likely reduce the yearly lung cancer deaths attributed to radon by 50%.
Utah Radon Services strongly advises installing a radon mitigation system if your radon level is between 2.0 and 3.9 pCi/L in an area of your home that is regularly used. We offer free bids and most of the time it can be done over the phone.
