Radon gas is a radioactive, cancer causing gas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that any radon exposure can increase your risk of contracting lung cancer. So while there is no safe level of radon gas, the lower the level, the safer the home.

Radon is naturally occuring and accounts for up to 70% of the radiation that we are exposed to here in Utah. It comes from the decay of uranium in soil. All soil, which means it can be found in any home no matter what neighborhood. Radon enters the home through the foundation, construction joins, etc. so new or old, a house can have radon. 1 in 3 homes in Utah have high radon levels. It is important that you test your home as that is the only way to determine if your home has radon.

Once you’ve tested, how do you know if your home has a safe level of radon gas?

Although there is no “safe” level of radon gas, there are “action levels” set by the EPA and World Health Organization to use as a guideline. The EPA recommends that you take action (or install a mitigation system) if your home tests at 4 pCi/L or above. However, the WHO actually states that the risk of contracting lung cancer is greater if your home is above 2.7 pCi/L.

While there is no safe level of radon gas for your home, there are definitely unacceptable levels. If your home is above 4.0, we recommend immediate mitigation. Between 2.7-4.0 we would still recommend it as per the World Health Organization.

The first step is to test your home for radon gas. Utah Radon Services offers free residential radon testing. The process is simple, just fill out the form on this page or give us a call at 801-871-0715 to request your test today.