What is S.C.R. 5?
In 2025, the Utah State Legislature passed S.C.R. 5, also known as the Concurrent Resolution Recognizing Radon Action and Awareness Month. As it sounds, this bill addresses radon awareness and testing in Utah, which is a critical step to protect Utahns from radon-induced lung cancer.
What is radon?
Radon is a natural gas that is incredibly common throughout the state of Utah. It is created when uranium decays and the gas then rises into the air we breathe. While it’s not incredibly dangerous when it’s breathed in outside, it can get concentrated indoors and cause major health issues because it changes the DNA of your lungs. This is why it’s the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and kills roughly 21,000 Americans per year.
Why is radon-induced lung cancer particularly dangerous?
Americans often think they are not at risk for lung cancer if they don’t smoke. That’s not true anywhere, but especially in Utah, with how much uranium and radon exist. Additionally, the symptoms of lung cancer are often mild and mimic minor conditions like the common cold or seasonal allergies. This means that most people are not diagnosed until their cancer reaches stages three or four and causes a significant impact on the patient’s well-being.
H2: What is the purpose of an awareness month?
The goal of Utah’s Concurrent Resolution Recognizing Radon Action and Awareness Month, and other awareness months, is to help the public understand the dangers presented to them so they can be educated and take any necessary action to protect their health. Although radon is incredibly dangerous, you can protect yourself and your loved ones by being educated on the risks and steps you can take to address it.
What can I do about radon?
Radon can’t be detected by our senses, which means it can be particularly insidious. Even more, it’s estimated that half of Utah homes have high levels of radon, and most people have no idea.
The good news is that simple tests can find your home’s radon level, and if your home tests high, a radon mitigation system can be installed to reduce it to a safer level. Radon mitigation systems are a series of pipes that pull the radon out of the ground below your home and into the air above. While they can cost a couple of thousand dollars, they are worth every penny for the peace of mind. Plus, lung cancer treatment is far more expensive!
The U.S. Surgeon General and leading health organizations around the world all recommend testing for radon every two years. Additionally, you should alternate testing between the summer and winter as weather can have a major impact on how much radon enters your home.
Ready to get started? Click here to get a free radon test sent to your home.
