Radon levels higher in Cache Valley than most of Utah

FILE PHOTO

Most of us know one or more cancer victims who have never smoked tobacco products nor have they been around second-hand smoke. Their lung cancers came from exposure to radon gas, an odorless and colorless gas and it is almost 100% preventable.

Mark Stevens, an environmental scientist with the Bear River Health Department’s environmental division, said radon gas enters homes through very small cracks in concrete slabs and basement walls.

“In Utah, about 20% of the homes throughout the state have high levels of radon,” Stevens explained on KVNU’s Crosstalk program Monday. “In Cache Valley, because of our mountains around us and our bench areas, about half the homes in Cache Valley are above the EPA action level.

“Those are very dangerous levels and they need to be mitigated.”

Stevens said testing is the only way to know if dangerous levels of radon are present. Test kits are easily available and can be purchased at local hardware-type stores for $7. The kit comes with easy-to-understand instructions.

The kits can be mailed away and in about a week the results are returned. Stevens recommends that people visit <a href=”http://www.brhd.org” target=”_blank”>BRHD.org</a> or call him at (435) 792-6578. He says there is a great deal of information on the health department’s website about making your home and property radon-safe.

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