Are your radon levels safe? Many people in our state don’t know what radon is or why it is dangerous.  Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the ground and comes into homes through the foundation.  Radon is measured in picocuries which are designated as pCi/L.  When we provide a free radon test, the measure of the radon test tells us what level the radon is at in the lowest part of the home.

Radon Levels 2.0 to 4.0 pCi/L

There is no safe level of radon.  The World Health Organization says that your home should be under 2.7 pCi/L. The EPA states that owners of homes with levels above 2.0 pCi/L should consider having a radon system installed to lower the levels.   The EPA compares homes with 2.0 to 4.0 pCi/L has the same risk of cancer as dying from poison. 

If you have someone living in the basement and have a level of 3.0 pCi/L that is the equivalent of smoking 6 cigarettes each day. This is significant exposure for their lungs and you should install a radon mitigation system. 

Radon accounts for over 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year and 70% of those deaths occur in homes with radon levels lower than 4.0.  This is why it’s important to mitigate your home if you measure between 2.0 and 4.0 PCi/L.

This is a chart from the EPA showing the risk of lung cancer to the level of radon. (Radon Levels Safe?)

Comparison of Smoking Risk To Radon Exposure For Lung Cancer:

Many healthy people do not smoke; however, radon could have the same effect as smoking when compared to the risk of lung cancer.

• 3 pCi/L = 6 Cigarettes per day
• 4 pCi/L = 8 Cigarettes per day
• 8 pCi/L = 16 Cigarettes per day
• 10 pCi/L = 1 Pack of Cigarettes per day
• 20 pCi/L = 2 Packs of Cigarettes per day

Utah Radon Services suggest having your home mitigated for radon if your level is 2.0 or higher to protect your health from the effects of radon.  If you would like to get a free no-obligation bid for radon, please call us at 801.871.0715.