Radon

Health Risks of Radon

Radon is a health risk facing millions of Americans.SCHD works collaboratively with the U.S. EPA, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (Utah DEQ), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to identify and fix radon problems.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls (sump openings, crawlspaces, floor/wall joints, cracks, etc.). Radon can become trapped in buildings, and thus, lead to elevated and harmful radon levels. Exposure to long-term, elevated radon levels can increase your risk of lung cancer. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and results in approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

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Radon Testing

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple.Radon test kits can be purchased from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for $6.00. Radon test kits are also available for purchase at local hardware stores or home improvement centers. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs, such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $500 to about $2,500). For a list of contracts please visit the Utah DEQ Residential Mitigation Providers Servicing Utah page by clicking here, or call 800-458-0145.