Why am I hearing so much about radon lately?

Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes

This story is sponsored by Utahradon.org.

What we know about radon

The source of radon gas, uranium, has been around for eons, but how we've interacted and understood its impact in the last several years has changed drastically.

To understand why radon has been talked about so much lately, it's important to first understand a few basic facts:

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium, which is found in rocks, soils, and water. Utah's rich uranium deposits have made it the third-largest producer in the U.S.
When radon enters the air, radioactive particles are released. These particles are deposited on the surface of our lung cells, where they can damage DNA and cause lung cancer.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause among smokers.
An estimated 21,000 Americans die every year from radon-induced lung cancer.
Exposure to radon-decay products is the leading environmental cause of cancer mortality in the U.S.
The only way to detect radon is to test for it.

An evolving understanding

One of the key reasons why radon hasn't been talked about until more recently is because our scientific understanding of the negative effects of radon is relatively new.

"Radon poses an easily reducible health risk to populations all over the world but has not, up until now, received widespread attention," said Dr. Michael Repacholi, coordinator of the World Health Organization's Radiation and Environmental Health Unit.

For instance, while it's commonly understood that smoking causes lung cancer, it was only in 1951 that radon proved to cause lung cancer. This finding came as a result of uranium miners experiencing abnormally high incidences of lung cancer.

Then in 1984, high radon concentrations were discovered in several homes in Pennsylvania. This led several medical, environmental, and government agencies to invest resources to better understand the impacts of radon on the U.S. population.

We've taken care of asbestos, we've taken care of lead paint, we've taken care of heavy metals. Radon is the next on the list, and probably more important than a lot of the things that we fixed.

–Dr. Wallace Akerley, Huntsman Cancer Institute

In 1993, the EPA released the Radon Zone Map to help residents understand their local exposure risk levels. At the time, the Map showed Utah in zones one and two (moderate to high levels). Those estimates have been updated to one in three Utah homes having high radon levels.

As scientific studies mounted and evidence became overwhelming, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a health advisory in 2005 about the impact of radon and urged every homeowner to test for radon.

These medical and public advancements started the momentum that propelled radon advocacy to the place it is now, especially as medical advancements allow for clearer diagnoses.

Today, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, the Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Surgeon General, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and local governments all encourage every resident to test for radon.

Simple and effective radon testing

When the U.S. Surgeon General issued the radon health advisory in 2005, advancements in radon testing technology rapidly followed. This led to cost-effective ways for every U.S. citizen to test their home.

This has allowed affordable and free test kits to be distributed at a significantly larger scale than ever before. As a result, testing has dramatically increased over the past several years, especially in Utah, where the average indoor radon level is five times higher than the national average.

Public education and outreach

Because Utah has such high radon levels, public outreach has also accelerated. Over the last 20 years, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality has implemented monumental awareness work, including education curriculum, classes for real estate agents, and media outreach.

"We've taken care of asbestos, we've taken care of lead paint, we've taken care of heavy metals," shares Dr. Wallace Akerley with the Huntsman Cancer Institute. "Radon is the next on the list and probably more important than a lot of the things that we fixed."

Ron and Kerri Robbins have been advocating for radon awareness since 2022. (Photo: Kerri Robbins)

Local activism

Locals who have been impacted by radon-induced lung cancer are speaking out in the media to raise awareness and protect others. One example is Lehi resident Kerri Robbins who was diagnosed with stage four non-smoking lung cancer.

After the shock of the diagnosis, Robbins wanted to know what caused her lung cancer. Her oncologist asked if she had tested her home for radon. "I said I didn't know I needed to," explained Robbins. "Why had I not known about this? How come somebody hadn't told me about radon?"

After finding out her home tested high for radon, she took it upon herself to advocate for radon awareness.

"I would have never, ever dreamed that this could happen to me. But let me tell you, it's very real. It not only affects you, it affects your spouse, it affects your children, it affects everything you do."

Robbins is now a board member of UtahRadon.org, where she speaks to the public about her experience and encourages everyone to test their homes.

State radon laws

Laws in Utah are behind other states when it comes to being proactive about radon. For example, Colorado has a law that allows a renter to exit a rental agreement without paying any fees if the landlord refuses to install a radon mitigation system.

Many states also allocate government funding to raise awareness and require homes to be tested for radon before the home sale is complete. Despite the monumental efforts made by medical and government agencies and concerned citizens, the Utah Legislature has been slow to take action.

While it's unclear when Utah will catch up with other states and enact radon laws, it is inevitable.

"We see one in three homes having elevated radon levels. It's why it's imperative that you test in Utah," explained Eleanor Divver, Radon Coordinator for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "If you have high levels, you can fix it, and you can save a life."