Radon is odorless, tasteless, radioactive, cancer-causing gas. You can't see radon, you can't smell it or taste it - but it may be a problem in your home.
- Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other openings in the foundation.
- Radon in homes is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is estimated to be responsible for 21,000 deaths per year.
- Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level. Colorado has one of the highest elevated radon incidence rates in the country. See Colorado Radon Zone Map below for county detail:
- The highest concentrations are typically found in basements or lower levels, but unhealthy radon levels can be found anywhere in a home.
- Elevated radon levels in homes can be mitigated by either sealing all potential radon entry points or by installing active radon mitigation systems, which vent radon gas from below the basement slab to the outside. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
- Any home can have a radon problem - new and old homes as well as homes with or without basements. Radon levels can vary significantly from house to house even in the same neighborhood, therefore every homes needs to be individually tested.
Download EPA Brochures:
Citizen's Guide To Radon: The Guide To Protecting Yourself And Your Family From Radon