Overall, Utah and Salt Lake counties fall in the medium-risk category for indoor radon, which is a naturally occurring gas produced from the decay of uranium in soil. The odorless gas usually enters homes via foundation cracks and can cause lung damage when inhaled, according to the EPA.

Utah's medium risk falls in a category defined by the EPA of about 2-4 picoCurries per liter of air. The government group recommends mitigation for anything above 4 picoCurries.

Roughly 30 percent of Utah homes have a high risk of radon contamination, according to Philip Griffin at the Indoor Radon Program for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In Salt Lake County, the areas with highest indoor radon risk include the western bench, as well as the foothill area in Sandy. High readings have been also been found through-out the valley as well as Davis county.

48 Hour Radon Testing.

Executive Home Inspections offers an electronic, continuous 48 hour Radon Monitor testing device, that has been evaluated and accepted by the US EPA for use in real estate transaction testing which will take a reading every hour. An overall average of under 4.0 is what the EPA considers acceptable. Below is a Utah article about Radon risks. If you need more information, contact me or click Radon Faq or  Radon.Utah.Gov. This site will answer most questions and concerns about radon and can link to the EPA sites as well. Radon tests results vary from home to home and at different times of the year. Test results and reports in 2 days with suggestions on how to reduce levels if test results are high.

What Is Radon and Why Are We Concerned?

Radon is an odorless, tasteless gas created in the ground where uranium and radium exist. The more uranium found beneath the home, the higher the potential for elevated radon levels within a building constructed upon that soil. In short, uranium breaks down into radium, which then decays into radon gas. Radon moves up through the soil into the atmosphere, where it dilutes and presents little concern. However, when it enters a building constructed on top of the soil, it can accumulate and present a health concern for occupants. Note that buildings other than homes can also have radon concerns (such as commercial buildings, schools, apartments, etc.).

Radon breaks down into several radioactive elements called "radon decay products," which are solid particles that become suspended in air. They are extremely small and easily inhaled, where they can attach to lung tissue. Because of their very short "halflives" radon decay products further decay and expose the lungs to radiation. Next to smoking, scientists believe that radon is associated with more lung cancer deaths than any other compound. Radon is classified as a "Group A" carcinogen, defined as a substance known to cause cancer in humans.

The U.S. EPA, the American Medical Association, the American Lung Association, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the National Academy of Sciences - in addition to many other health organizations - all agree that radon is a health concern that must be addressed. In May of 1993, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) joined the EPA in urging all Americans to test their homes for radon. NAR encouraged state associations to develop and support legislation or regulation requiring mandatory property condition disclosure, including radon, by the seller. Learn some terminology and consider some statistics!

• The average indoor level of radon is 1.3 pCi/L.
• The average indoor level of radon in Utah homes is 2.6 pCi/L.
• The average outdoor level of radon is 0.4 pCi/L.
• The average percentage of Utah homes with levels over 4.0pCi/L is 30 percent.
• The 4 pCi/L guidance is not a safety standard. Levels below this still represent some risk.

It is estimated that radon causes about 14,000 deaths per year in the U.S. However, this number could range from 7,000 to 30,000. Statistics place radon as a significant cause of death in the U.S.

If you have performed a radon test and it is obvious that the radon level needs to be reduced, you have several options.

If you wish to hire a professional, qualified radon mitigation contractors are available across the country. Some states require that the contractor maintain a state license so you may want to contact the state radon office for a list of qualified individuals. Although most states do not require licenses, it is very important to use a properly trained mitigator. The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) administers a voluntary National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) for radon professionals consisting of individuals and companies wanting to take training courses and examinations to demonstrate their competency. The NEHA NRPP website maintains lists of certified radon mitigators, radon measurement service providers and analytical laboratories. Follow the link, choose the service you seek and then narrow your search by state.

Below are some photos of different radon mitigation applications.

Exterior Mount	Exterior Mount	Garage Mount	Garage Mount

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