RADON

By Shallen Sterner Environmental Health Scientist

Most people know that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. What some may not know is that the second leading cause of lung cancer is radon gas. Southwest Utah residents should take some time to place radon on their healthy living radar by learning what radon is and how we can protect ourselves from it. Radon gas is a naturally occurring byproduct of uranium decomposition. This gas is radioactive and can be harmful with prolonged exposure at certain levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes over 20,000 deaths each year. Unlike smoking, radon is more of a hidden danger because it is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. How much radon gas in a house is too much exposure? The EPA recommends reducing the levels of radon in homes to less than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The national average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outdoor air. The levels in Utah houses are very different from city to city and from county to county. There can even be different levels in homes that are right next door to each other. For this reason, homeowners should test to find out what the radon level is in their own dwelling. Homeowners should take at least an initial sample to find out if their home has a radon level greater than 4 pCi/L.

A short-term test is a good start. This test is usually simple and inexpensive. There are several types of short-term test kits that can be purchased online or at your local home improvement store. Utah residents can order a reduced-price ($10.95) test kit online by visiting deq.utah.gov/radon and clicking the “Order Radon Test Kit” link. Conducting a second test may provide greater peace of mind to ensure that a home has radon levels below the standard. Make sure to perform at least one of the tests in the winter as radon levels tend to be higher in the winter months. Homeowners with high radon levels may need to take action to fix their homes. Several techniques can be used to reduce radon levels, including hiring a residential mitigation provider that has been approved by the state of Utah. A listing can be found on the same website mentioned above by clicking the “Certified Mitigators” link. To promote radon awareness in the community, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department sponsors an annual local Radon Poster Contest for students. We would like to congratulate our 2020 Radon Poster Contest winners, which are as follows:

1st Place - Nathaly Gonzalez 2nd Place - Olivia Walker 3rd Place - Mindy Campbell H.M. - Burkley Workman

All three students are in the 7th grade and attend Fossil Ridge Intermediate. In addition, the students' posters were sent to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to participate in a State level contest. Mindy Campbell took 1st place in her grade level and another local student, Burkley Workman, received an honorable mention.

Scan this code with your phone camera to see links for test kits, mitigation providers, test results by zip code, and other radon information.

Oenothera caespitosa Named for their tendency to open in the afternoon or evening and found in fields, meadows and open woodlands, often in sandy soil.