Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
One in three Utah homes have a high level of radioactive gas that causes lung cancer — and most Utahns don't know it.
What radon is
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms when uranium in the ground decays. The gas is prevalent in Utah due to the high frequency of uranium deposits throughout the state.
While the levels of radon in the air outside do not pose a significant threat to our lungs, radon becomes dangerous when it gets trapped inside homes or other structures, builds up, and is breathed in over a prolonged period.
Why you should care
Radon exposure causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year and should not be taken lightly. Conservatively, 33% of homes tested in Utah have high radon levels, but some studies show that over 50% of Utah homes have concerning radon concentrations.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Even more, radon-induced lung cancer is completely preventable because people can test for radon and fix the issue.
"With most of the things we deal with in medicine, we're always talking about a small chance of making a difference. If you've got a one in three chance of having a problem in your house today, it's something that you should do something about," explained Dr. Wallace Akerley, a medical oncologist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Akerley's medical advice is something Todd Smith, a Saratoga Springs resident, wished he'd heard years ago. Smith's wife, Rachel, passed away last year from non-smoking lung cancer that may have been linked to radon. Smith never thought he would say goodbye to his wife at such an early age. "Losing somebody to something like lung cancer is devastating," said Smith. "But, at the same time, there are also things you can do to avoid something like that."
Since Rachel's death, Todd has been encouraging Utah residents to test their homes for radon. "Something like radon gas is something that you can avoid, that we can actually test for. If I could go back, if I could have prevented it, if there was anything I could have done, it would be worth it." Smith had a radon mitigation system installed in his home and encourages all Utah residents to take radon seriously. See more of Todd and Rachel's story here.
Why you haven't heard of radon
Eleanor Divver, radon project coordinator at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, says that two of the most common questions she hears from non-smoking lung cancer patients are, "Why do I not know about radon?" and, "Why have we not done more to educate the public about what radon is, that it's easy to test for, that it's easy to fix?"
Radon education has historically been a blind spot in public health information, though Utah has recently begun to take more direct measures in educating the public about the threat. Still, one of the best things Utahns can do is talk about the issue with friends, family, and neighbors.
It's heartbreaking to share with loved ones and the individuals surviving cancer to say to them, yeah, if you would have just tested for radon, you might have protected you and your family from this lung cancer diagnosis.
–Eleanor Divver, radon project coordinator, Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Divver explained that radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air, or pCi/L. Outside air averages 0.4 pCi/L. While there is no safe radon level, most experts agree this level does not pose a significant health threat. Conversely, the average indoor radon level in Utah is 5.3 pCi/L. That level has the equivalent lung cancer risk of smoking half a pack of cigarettes every day.
With so many homes in Utah having dangerous radon levels, Divver frequently has difficult conversations with residents who have been diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer.
"It's heartbreaking to share with loved ones and the individuals surviving cancer to say to them," said Divver. "To say to them, 'yeah, if you would have just tested for radon, you might have protected you and your family from this lung cancer diagnosis.'"
What you can do
The first and most important step is to test for radon.
"It is imperative to test for radon in Utah," explained Divver. "We're a mining state. There's lots of uranium in the soil, so we need to make sure we're testing our homes."
According to Divver, you should first perform an activated charcoal test to find your home's radon level. You can get one free test from UtahRadon.org, mailed directly to you. The shipping, kit, and lab fees are all prepaid, allowing Utahns to test their homes at no cost. After you complete the simple test, you will get your home's results in 7–14 days. If your home test results are high, you can have a radon mitigation system installed to reduce the radon concentration to a safer level.
Radon is a danger to all Utahns, but you can take action now to protect yourself and your loved ones from radon-induced lung cancer. To get your free radon test kit, go to UtahRadon.org.
