Why Utah has higher rates of non-smoking lung cancer

Nationally, 10% of lung cancer patients are non-smokers. However, in Utah, that number is closer to 20-30%. We’re here to help you understand why Utahns are impacted at a greater rate with non-smoking lung cancer (and what you can do about it).

Radon in Utah

Utah’s landscape is full of uranium in the soil, and when uranium decays, it turns into a radioactive gas called radon. Our senses can’t detect radon, and it damages the DNA in our lungs when breathed in at high levels for a prolonged period. 

One in three homes in Utah have high radon levels—and many people don’t know it until it’s too late. Radon kills an estimated 21,000 Americans per year from non-smoking lung cancer, and it’s not uncommon for someone to get a stage three or four diagnosis because the symptoms tend to be mild at the start. 

What to do about radon

According to doctors at Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute, living in Utah puts you at a higher risk of lung cancer due to radon. The good news is you can easily test your home with a free test from Utah Radon Services. If your home tests high for radon, a radon mitigation system can be installed to reduce it to a safer level.