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Radon Gas Hazard in Utah

Learn about the dangers of radon gas, the second leading cause of lung cancer. Discover where radon comes from, how it enters buildings, safe levels, testing methods, and mitigation. Utah-specific information and resources provided.

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Radon Gas Hazard in Utah

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  1. Radon Gas Hazard in Utah Steven Lizotte GEOG 1700 Fall 2013 Radiation symbol: Nicholas Raymond, http://www.flickr.com/photos/80497449@N04/8677736772/

  2. What is Radon Gas? • A radioactive Gas • Odorless, colorless, and tasteless • The second leading cause of lung and bronchus cancer • Radon gas is a killer Utah DEQ, DRC New Jewish Cemetery, Brzesko, Poland Radiation symbol: Nicholas Raymond, http://www.flickr.com/photos/80497449@N04/8677736772

  3. Where Does Radon Come From? • The natural radioactive decay of Uranium and other heavy elements (such as Vanadium) in the soil • Radon is found everywhere in the United States • You get exposed to radon daily, but in concentrations that are well below dangerous (but not risk free) levels – except at home, work, or in any building

  4. How does radon get in? • Through cracks in the foundation • Around plumbing and electrical lines • Through water when wells contain high levels of radon gas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basement US EPA

  5. What level of radon is safe? • Radon is measured in picoCurries per liter of air (pCi/L) • The level or radon in outside air is 0.4 pCi/L on average • The average indoor level is 1.3 pCiL • Mitigation should occur when levels exceed 2 pCi/L and MUST occur when over 4 pCi/L • THERE IS NO “SAFE” LEVEL in the home or workplace.

  6. How do I measure radon levels? • There are a two test types, short term and long term • Short term tests are less definitive and run from a few days to a few months. • Long term tests are more definitive and take 6 months or more • Since any level of radon be dangerous, either test is effective. Wikimedia Foundation

  7. What hazard does Radon Pose in Utah?

  8. What are the cancer risks in Utah?

  9. What should I know about radon? • Mitigation should occur when levels exceed 2 pCi/L • THERE IS NO “SAFE” LEVEL in the home or workplace. • Smoking plus radon levels over 2 pCi/L magnify your risk of cancer several fold (4 times greater than dying from poison) = + Ottone, 2008 Wikimedia Foundation Wikimedia Foundation

  10. For more information visit: • Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control, http://www.radon.utah.gov/ • Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html

  11. Sources and References • Ottone, V. (2008, November 20). Portrait #71 - Camélia [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/saneboy/3050003040 • US Environmental Protection Agency. (2013, January 10). A citizen's guide to radon. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html • Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, October 13). Radon program: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/radonfaqs.htm • Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, July 10). Short term radon test results by county and zip code. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/docs/2013/Mar/RadonShortTerm2013version3.pdf • Maps created by Steven Lizotte, http://stevenlizotte.wordpress.com/

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