Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
Conservatively, 1 in 3 homes in Utah has dangerous levels of radon, a radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. According to Dr. Wallace Akerley, a medical oncologist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in Utah.
"Every Utah resident should know that radon is radioactive. It's a cause of cancer. You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't feel it, but it's there in every house to some degree," Akerley said. "If you don't test, you don't know if you have a dangerous house or not."
In January, Akerley, a group of radon-induced lung cancer survivors, radon experts, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the University of Utah's Radon Lab teamed up with UtahRadon.org to spread awareness about radon-induced lung cancer in Utah. Together, they announced a statewide goal to have 21,000 Utahns test their homes for radon by Feb. 14.
"Twenty-one thousand Americans die annually from radon-induced lung cancer," said Brad Callister, a board member of UtahRadon.org. "We hope to honor them by encouraging Utahns to test their homes with free tests donated by Utah Radon Services."
While radon poses a threat to everyone, children are particularly at risk. According to Nick Torres, an advocacy director with the American Lung Association, children breathe faster than adults, which means they breathe more radon gas. Additionally, many children sleep in basements where radon levels are the highest. Even if the home doesn't have a basement, the floor that is in direct contact with the ground will have the highest radon levels.
Since the radon test goal was announced in January, thousands of Utah residents have requested a free radon test. So far, the group estimates that 38% of the homes have dangerous radon levels according to the EPA's guidelines (fix the issue at 4.0 pCi/L or higher), and 55% according to the WHO's guidelines (fix the issue at 2.7 pCi/L or higher).
"Low radon doses we do pretty well with — but the inflection point, where it really starts to take off, is probably around 2.7 pico curries per liter," said Akerley. The goal is to get the levels as low as possible, as both the EPA and WHO agree there is no safe level of radon.
It's imperative that every Utahn test.
–Eleanor Divver, Utah Department of Environmental Quality
The advocacy group said it's grateful for the response to the goal and is encouraging those who haven't tested yet to request a test today.
"It's imperative that every Utahn test. Recognize that if you test, you can fix it," said Eleanor Divver, radon coordinator at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
Even if you have tested your home in the past, leading health organizations recommend testing your home for radon every two years. Radon levels are higher in the winter, so if you're due for a radon test, it's best to test now.
"Losing somebody to something like lung cancer is devastating. But, at the same time, there are also things you can do to avoid something like that," explained Todd Smith, an oncology nurse who lost his wife to non-smoking lung cancer last year.
Smith said he would have done anything to prevent his wife from getting lung cancer.
Watch the video below to learn more about Todd's story.
"Most of the cancers we see are cancers you couldn't have done a whole lot about, but this is one you really can do something about," Akerley said.
Radon-induced lung cancer is preventable, and right now, it's free to test your home. With the testing goal deadline just around the corner (Valentine's Day), there's no better time to request a free radon test to protect your health and the health of your family and friends.
