Does Colorado have high radon levels?
High radon levels have been found in all 50 states and in all parts of Colorado. In Colorado, about half the homes have radon levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L): Colorado radon zones.
What is radon and how dangerous is it?
It's a gas that moves up through the soil to the atmosphere. High radon levels have been found in all 50 states and in all parts of Colorado. In Colorado, about half the homes have radon levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L):
Where does radon come from naturally?
Radon in Colorado Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. It's a gas that moves up through the soil to the atmosphere. High radon levels have been found in all 50 states and in all parts of Colorado.
Who regulates radon in Colorado?
The law is regulated by DORA: the department of regulatory agencies for the state of Colorado. These Colorado radon regulations are part of a sunset law, so it will be in place for ten years. If the citizens demand it’s kept, it will have to be voted into law again in 2031.
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Why is radon high in Colorado?
Why is Colorado's risk so high? As a natural byproduct of the radioactive decaying process of uranium, radon gas is present wherever uranium naturally occurs in the soil. Different soils have different concentrations of uranium, but the mineral makeup of Colorado's soil is particularly uranium-dense.
Do all houses in Colorado have radon?
Radon levels are high in Colorado Data collected by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ( CDPHE ) indicates that approximately 50% of homes in Colorado have radon levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air ( pCi/L ).
Is radon mitigation required in Colorado?
Low cost radon test kits are available through the state and some counties. Only one of the fastest growing counties in Colorado requires new homes to be built with a system to mitigate a cancer causing gas.
What states have the most radon?
Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:Alaska (10.7)South Dakota (9.6)Pennsylvania (8.6)Ohio (7.8)Washington (7.5)Kentucky (7.4)Montana (7.4)Idaho (7.3)More items...•
How much does radon mitigation cost in Colorado?
about $1,000 - $2,000Reducing radon levels A mitigation system in Colorado usually costs about $1,000 - $2,000 unless difficult design problems are encountered. You might be able to do sub-slab depressurization yourself if you have good handyman skills, including electrical wiring skills.
What are the symptoms of radon?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.Persistent cough.Hoarseness.Wheezing.Shortness of breath.Coughing up blood.Chest pain.Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.Loss of appetite.More items...
Can you reduce radon by opening windows?
As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.
How accurate is a 48 hour radon test?
University of Calgary. "Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time." ScienceDaily.
Where is radon most commonly found?
Radon is present outdoors and is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in surface water, such as rivers and lakes. It can be found at higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, as well as in water from underground sources, such as private well water.
What state has lowest radon levels?
HawaiiHawaii has the lowest radon levels of all 50 states, with an average level of 0 pCi/L. The uranium content of Hawaiian rocks is low, and most rocks near the surface are porous, allowing for air infiltration to dilute radon. Alaska has the highest radon levels of 10.7 pCi/L.
Will an air purifier help with radon?
Do Air Purifiers Help With Radon Gas? Yes, air purifiers help with radon gas reduction to some extent. The air purifiers with activated carbon filter technology are highly effective in trapping radon gas.
Does HVAC reduce radon?
This study shows that even the most standard ventilation provided by an HVAC system can reduce levels. The impact of radon is statistical and improvements can continue to be gained at levels below the current 4.0 pCi/l action level.
Is radon common in Colorado Springs?
Radon in Colorado Springs Radon is prevalent in the entire State of Colorado but especially high right here in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. Radon tests are a regular part of Home Inspections in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Monument and Fountain Colorado.
What is radon element?
radon (Rn), chemical element, a heavy radioactive gas of Group 18 (noble gases) of the periodic table, generated by the radioactive decay of radium. (Radon was originally called radium emanation.) Radon is a colourless gas, 7.5 times heavier than air and more than 100 times heavier than hydrogen.
How does radon get into your home?from cdphe.colorado.gov
How radon gets into your home. Radon moves from uranium-bearing granite deposits in the soil to the atmosphere. Your home sits on radon's pathway from the soil to the atmosphere. Your home is usually warmer and has lower air pressure than the surrounding soil, so gases in the soil, including radon, move into your home.
How much does a radon test cost?from cdphe.colorado.gov
There are many kinds of low-cost "do it yourself" radon test kits available at home improvement stores from about $10 to $50. The house is closed for 12 hours, then the testing device is activated or opened and left in place for 48 hours or more.
What type of monitor do contractors use?from cdphe.colorado.gov
Contractors will use either a continuous monitor, which will provide a test result at the end of the test period, or some other short-term measurement device that can be read at a lab and the value reported in a short period of time.
What is the most effective solution for a crawl space?from cdphe.colorado.gov
The most effective solution is usually a sub-slab (or if you have a crawl space, sub-membrane) depressurization system.
Does radon cause cancer?from cdphe.colorado.gov
Radon has no color, odor or taste and doesn't cause short-term symptoms of illness. Radon causes cancer. It's estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the surgeon general. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
Where to test for radon?from cdphe.colorado.gov
Where to test. If you’re testing to determine whether your home has radon levels warranting mitigation, the EPA recommends testing in the lowest living area of your home. For a real estate transaction, the EPA recommends testing in the lowest area that could be modified to become a living area.
Can you test water for radon?from cdphe.colorado.gov
Radon in water. If your water comes from a private well and you found a radon problem when you tested the air in your home, you should test the water. Radon and water testing kits are available online and at most home improvement stores. Radon in water mitigation companies.
Radon in Colorado
Although radon is present throughout the United States, Colorado is among the most radon-rich states in the country. Unfortunately, the soil throughout the state houses uranium that eventually degrades into radon and floats through the foundation of your home.
Radon Consequences
So, how common is radon gas in Colorado homes? Simply put, its presence is uncomfortably common. You might think, “I feel fine, and nothing else seems strange, so there’s probably no radon in my house.” However, radon is invisible and odorless, so noticing its presence is far from simple.
Consult the Experts
Simply because you live in an area susceptible to radon exposure doesn’t mean your home is full of the deadly gas. That said, you should find out how much of it is in your home. To determine radon levels on your property, reach out to a trained professional.
Why is Radon Found in Colorado Springs?
Uranium, a radioactive metal, releases radon gas as it decays. Uranium is found naturally throughout Colorado as part of the Uravan mineral belt. While this large deposit is, in part, in western Colorado, smaller amounts of uranium are scatted throughout our state.
How Does Radon Effect the Colorado Springs Real Estate Market?
Radon affects the real estate market because most of our homes were built before we had Radon Mitigation Systems. We didn’t take the threat of radon seriously until recently. In the 1950s, research began looking at why miners tended to die of cancer. Regulations to limit radioactive exposure for miners were developed in the 1960s.
What radon level should I get for my home?
If your radon test comes back at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA recommends that you have a radon professional install a Radon Mitigation System. These systems can reduce the radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent, reducing your lung cancer risk and making buyers feel more secure about their purchase.
What is the average radon level in Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, like the whole county of El Paso, has average indoor radon levels of 4.9 to 9 pCi/L. This is almost double the 4.0 pCi/l “level for action” from the EPA in which they strongly recommend homeowners install Radon Mitigation Systems. Your chances of getting lung cancer from this level of radon are five times greater than your chances of dying in a car crash.
How to use a radon test kit?
Using the kit is simple; all you do is put the sampler in the lowest possible livable space of your home. It reacts to radon, and the third-party lab will process the charcoal test to determine how much radon is in your home based on the air sample collected.
Do you need to test your home for radon before moving in?
Therefore, homebuyers and homeowners are increasingly concerned about buying a home with low levels of radon, especially as awareness to radon and its threat becomes more widespread. It is now common for buyers to insist that homeowners test their home for radon and install a Radon Mitigation System before the new owners move in.
Can radon cause cancer?
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that can cause lung cancer. The more radon you breathe in, the higher your risk of getting lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and before second-hand smoke. In fact, radon is linked to over 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year across the country, according to the EPA.
What is radon gas?
Blog, Uncategorized. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and radioactive gas that forms through the natural breaking down of uranium in soil, water and rocks. The gas escapes from the ground through cracks and other holes in your home’s foundation.
Why is radon in Colorado so high?
Reasons for high radon levels in the above Colorado counties. As said earlier, radon is naturally occurring. It is a byproduct of decomposing uranium, a metal commonly found in the ground across many areas of Colorado, mostly in trace amounts. The presence of this metal in most of the counties is the sole reason for high recorded levels ...
Why is radon gas high in winter?
During the cold months, the potential for high radon gas levels reaches its maximum because windows and doors are locked tight to keep out the winter’s chill. Make sure to test your house for radon levels especially in this season and have mitigation done if the levels are above the acceptable level.
What is the EPA recommended action level for radon?
The EPA recommended action level is 4 pCi (picocuries) of radon per one liter of air, meaning that any level higher than that requires mitigation. Here are several counties in Colorado with the highest radon levels and reasons why they have plenty of it;
Does radon gas build up in your home?
Your home traps the gas and with time, it builds up in plenty and can have adverse effects on those breathing it. Radon gas is said to decay into radioactive particles that can get trapped in the lungs leading to lung tissue damage and potential lung cancer.
Is Pikes Peak granite radon?
The Pikes Peak granite has unusually large concentrations of uranium. However, it is hardly enough to be mined and therefore it being left there contributes largely to the heavy presence of radon gas in the area.