Northern Colorado falls into EPA's radon Zone 1. This zone has
the highest potential for radon in the US, with an average indoor level
above 4 picocuries per liter.
If you are living in a house that has not been tested, or if you
are buying a new house in the area, you should get your radon level
tested.
What is Radon?
Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that can enter your
house from the soil or through well water. Radon is the result of the
breakdown of uranium, and radon itself continues the process of
radioactive decay, emitting alpha particles (radiation) as it does so.
It is these alpha particles that damage the lungs, and the more radon
in your house, the more radiation in your lungs, and the greater your
odds of that radiation causing damage that leads to lung cancer.
What Radon Test Results Mean
If your test results show a level of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or
greater, the EPA recommends having the radon level reduced through
mitigation. If you are a smoker, you are at greater risk and should
consider mitigation if your level is 2 pCi/L or above.
Health Risks
Why should I care about lung cancer?
According to the American Lung Association, "Lung cancer is the leading
cancer killer in both men and women in the United States."
They also say that out of 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer, 6 will
die in the first year of being diagnosed, 7-8 within two years, and only
one will survive beyond five years.
See The ALA lung cancer fact sheet for additional information.
Yes, but how likely is it really?
Lung cancer from radon causes 21,000 deaths each year in the US alone.
Based on the data from the Environmental Protection Agency, if you live
in house with a radon level at or above 4 pCi/L, you are more likely to
develop lung cancer due to radon exposure than to:
- die in a car crash
- die in an airplane crash
- die in a home fire
- drown
If the radon level in your house is higher, or if you smoke, your odds
of developing lung cancer are even higher.
You protect yourself from these other dangers; shouldn't you protect
yourself from radon too?
Additional Radon Information Sources
If you need additional information on radon, you should start
with the following resources:
EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
and
Citizen's Guide to Radon
The health risks of living with radon,
also from the EPA
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists,
with excellent links to health information and research studies
The World Health Organization's International Radon Project
The Surgeon General's news release on radon
Wikipedia's entry for radon for general information and additional links
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