What is radon?
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that rises from the soil into buildings. Though it’s not incredibly dangerous when breathed in outdoors, it can become insidious when it gets trapped indoors and concentrates. Radon is similar to carbon dioxide in that it can’t be detected by human senses, but it’s far more inconspicuous due to the fact that it doesn’t cause immediate symptoms upon exposure.
Roughly 50% of homes in Utah have high levels of radon gas because Utah is full of uranium, and radon is the result of decaying uranium in the ground. This gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, but most people don’t know their home has high radon until they receive a life-changing diagnosis.
Why is radon dangerous?
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and has also been connected to other conditions such as childhood leukemia, attention deficit disorders, and asthma.
When someone breathes in radon for a prolonged period of time, the DNA in their lungs changes, which often turns into lung cancer. Even more, additional studies are being conducted on a regular basis, and so far, the data shows strong correlations between exposure and other illnesses that can have a life-changing impact.
21,000 people die annually from radon-induced lung cancer, but this condition is almost entirely preventable by following regular testing guidelines. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it takes 5–25 years of exposure to get a lung cancer diagnosis. Testing on a regular basis can help you discover a radon issue before even 5 years pass, thus reducing your risk significantly.
Why do I need to test every 2 years?
Radon levels change throughout the year due to weather conditions, but can also fluctuate based on external factors. This is why it is critical to test every two years and alternate between summer and winter to have a full picture of your potential exposure.
Weather and natural disasters
Temperature, windows being open or closed, snow, and other weather-related factors can all impact how much radon enters a home. Even more, natural disasters, including earthquakes, can impact the amount of radon that can get into a home through pores and cracks in the foundation.
Home maintenance
All homes need regular maintenance, and some of those maintenance tasks can cause more radon to enter the home. If any impact is made to the home’s foundation, a test should be reperformed, even before two years pass.
Construction
While upgrading a home can be thrilling, this type of action (especially if drilling is involved) can also disrupt the soil under the building and allow more radon to leak inside. Even more, increasing the energy efficiency of a home can often trap more radon indoors because those homes allow less air to exit outdoors.
Ready to get started? Click here for a free radon test from UtahRadon.org.
