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Radon

Exposure to radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Radon is an odorless, invisible gas that occurs naturally in the ground where uranium and radium exist, which can move up through the soil and into a home or building. Concentration of radon is measured in pico Curies per Liters (pCi/L). In Utah, one in three homes tested have elevated radon levels (above 4 pCi/L).


Strategy AWork with partners to establish a statewide surveillance program to track and monitor radon.

Who is addressing this strategy and how is UCAN partnering?
-Utah Radon Coalition: UCAN members actively participate in URC coalition meetings.
-Utah Department of Health: Division of Environmental Epidemiology is working with UCAN members to publish a radon white paper for use in legislative efforts.

  • Establish data priorities.
  • Compile surveillance plans/programs from other states.
  • Support policy that requires radon measurers and mitigators to submit testing and mitigation data to a statewide program.
  • Improve the quality of professional radon gas measuring and remediation by supporting a policy that requires the training, testing and licensing of radon measurers and mitigators.
  • Continue to collect data from subsidized home self-test kits.


Who is addressing this strategy and how is UCAN partnering?
-Utah Radon Coalition: UCAN members actively participate in URC coalition meetings.

-Utah Department of Health: UCAN members are partnering with UDOH to develop a media campaign to educate Utahns on the dangers of radon gas.

  • The Utah Department of Health will add radon awareness questions to the BRFSS to help develop a radon awareness baseline and assess the results of radon awareness activities.
  • Develop funding to create and launch a statewide radon awareness campaign to include television, radio, and other electronic and print media.
  • Support Radon Awareness Action Month (NRAM).
  • Support the National Radon Poster Contest.
  • Work with state, county, and local government to provide radon awareness materials to residents.
  • Increase awareness concerning the cost efficiency of radon-resistant new construction.

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Who is addressing this strategy and how is UCAN partnering?
-Utah Radon Coalition: UCAN members actively participate in URC coalition meetings.

-Utah Department of Environmental Quality: Working with local health departments and other UCAN member organizations to disseminate radon test kits throughout the state.

-Davis County Health Department: Partner with UDOH to develop policy approaches to increase testing and mitigation options in Davis County.

  • Assist and encourage homeowners and home buyers to acquire and use self-test kits or hire certified radon-measurement specialists to test all buildings before they are sold and at the time of sale.
  • Assist and encourage homeowners and home buyers to hire certified radon mitigators to remediate elevated radon levels in the home.
  • Develop funding to provide free mitigation services to low-income residents.
  • Promote radon testing and mitigation in schools and public buildings.
  • Utah Department of Environmental Quality, community hospitals, and Utah health plans will help provide free radon test kits to new mothers throughout Utah.

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