Hazard Posed by Radon Gas in Utah
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Hazard Posed by Radon Gas in Utah Radon is: A radioactive Gas Odorless, colorless, and tasteless The second leading cause of lung and bronchus cancer Radon gas is a killer Radon gas comes from; The natural radioactive decay of Uranium and other heavy elements (such as Vanadium) in the soil Radon is found everywhere in the United States You get exposed to radon daily, but in concentrations that are well below dangerous (but not risk free) levels – except at home, work, or in any building Radon enters into our living and work spaces: Through cracks in the foundation Around plumbing and electrical lines Through water when wells contain high levels of radon gas Radon levels: The level or radon in outside air is 0.4 pCi/L The average indoor level is 1.3 pCiL Mitigation should occur when levels exceed 2 pCi/L Smoking plus radon levels over 2 pCi/L magnify your risk of cancer several fold (4 times greater than dying from poison) (figures from Centers for Disease Control, CDC.gov) Measuring Radon: Radon is measured in picoCurries per liter of air (pCi/L) There are a two test types, short term and long term Short term tests are less definitive and run from a few days to a few months. Long term tests are more definitive and take 6 months or more 2 Most Important Things About Radon Gas: THERE ARE NO “SAFE” LEVELS in the home or workplace. YOU SHOULD TEST FOR RADON Where the Risk is Greatest Radon and Lung Cancer in Utah For More Information: Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control, http://www.radon.utah.gov/ Environmental Protection Agency, http:// www.epa.gov/radon/index.html Sources: US Environmental Protection Agency. (2013, January 10). A citizen's guide to radon. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, October 13). Radon program: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/radonfaqs.htm Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, July 10). Short term radon test results by county and zip code. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/docs/2013/Mar/RadonShortTerm2013version3.pdf Created by Steven Lizotte http:// stevenlizotte.wordpress.com December 2, 2013 EPA.gov
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Radon is: A radioactive Gas Odorless, colorless, and tasteless The second leading cause of lung and bronchus cancer Radon gas is a killer. Radon levels: The level or radon in outside air is 0.4 pCi /L The average indoor level is 1.3 pCiL - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Hazard Posed by Radon Gas in Utah
Hazard Posed by Radon Gas in UtahRadon is: A radioactive Gas Odorless, colorless, and tasteless The second leading cause of lung and bronchus
cancer Radon gas is a killer
Radon gas comes from; The natural radioactive decay of Uranium and
other heavy elements (such as Vanadium) in the soil
Radon is found everywhere in the United States You get exposed to radon daily, but in
concentrations that are well below dangerous (but not risk free) levels – except at home, work, or in any building
Radon enters into our living and work spaces: Through cracks in the foundation Around plumbing and electrical lines Through water when wells contain high levels of
radon gas
Radon levels: The level or radon in outside air is 0.4 pCi/L The average indoor level is 1.3 pCiL Mitigation should occur when levels exceed 2
pCi/L Smoking plus radon levels over 2 pCi/L magnify
your risk of cancer several fold (4 times greater than dying from poison)
(figures from Centers for Disease Control, CDC.gov)
Measuring Radon: Radon is measured in picoCurries per liter of air
(pCi/L) There are a two test types, short term and long
term Short term tests are less definitive and run from a
few days to a few months. Long term tests are more definitive and take 6
months or more
2 Most Important Things About Radon Gas: THERE ARE NO “SAFE” LEVELS in the home or workplace. YOU SHOULD TEST FOR RADON
Where the Risk is Greatest Radon and Lung Cancer in Utah
For More Information: Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control,
http://www.radon.utah.gov/ Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Sources:
US Environmental Protection Agency. (2013, January 10). A citizen's guide to radon. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, October 13). Radon program: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/radonfaqs.htm
Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control. (2013, July 10). Short term radon test results by county and zip code. Retrieved from http://www.radon.utah.gov/docs/2013/Mar/RadonShortTerm2013version3.pdf
Created by Steven Lizotte http://stevenlizotte.wordpress.com
December 2, 2013
EPA.gov
