Radon in Colorado PSA
El radón en Colorado
The map above shows radon test results in Larimer County. Results below the EPA's recommended action level are shown in blue. The average radon level in the area is 7.8 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), which is higher than the national average of 1.3 pCi/L. The EPA advises that homes with radon levels of 4 pCi/L or more should be fixed.
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater. People are mostly exposed to radon by breathing it in from the air that enters buildings through cracks and gaps. Since radon comes from the earth, we are always exposed to it.
In Colorado, about half of homes have radon levels that are higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to the EPA. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Each year, radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths, with about 2,900 of these deaths occurring in people who have never smoked.
Smokers have a higher risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure. However, there is no evidence that radon causes other respiratory diseases like asthma, and there is no evidence that children are at a higher risk of lung cancer from radon than adults.
Home test kits for radon are easy to use and affordable. Testing is the only way to find out if your family is at risk from radon. The kit should be placed on the lowest level of the home where people spend time (such as a basement if it’s used often, or the first floor). If your furnace or central air conditioning is on the lowest floor, it may spread air from that level to other parts of the home.
All Colorado residents can get a free radon test kit, funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The kits are mailed from Alpha Energy Labs, and you can use the link below to order one.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offers financial help to reduce radon in homes through the Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance program. If you meet certain income requirements, the program can cover up to 100% of the cost to install a radon mitigation system in your home by a certified professional. For more details about this financial assistance, you can find more information on their website. CDPHE webpage here.
Radon test reports must be kept at the child care facility and be available for anyone who asks to see them.
Radon measurements show how much radon was present during the test. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), a unit of radioactivity. The EPA recommends taking action if radon levels reach 4 pCi/L.
If the test results are below 4 pCi/L, no action is needed, but it's good to test every 5 years to keep track of the levels.
If a room shows levels between 4 pCi/L and 8 pCi/L, it's recommended to do a longer test in that room. If the long-term test shows levels above 4 pCi/L, you should consider mitigating the radon.
If a room shows a result higher than 8 pCi/L, do another short-term test in that room. If the levels are still above 8 pCi/L after the second test, radon mitigation is recommended.
While Colorado's child care regulations don't require radon mitigation, it is strongly recommended when radon levels are 4 pCi/L or higher. The cost of mitigation depends on how the facility was built and the severity of the radon problem. There are several ways to reduce radon levels.
For rooms with radon levels between 4 pCi/L and 8 pCi/L, sometimes small changes to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can help by increasing airflow to those rooms.
More complex mitigation systems can also be used, such as sub-slab depressurization or suction systems that remove radon gas and release it safely into the air. These systems should only be installed by a certified contractor. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment has a list of certified contractors who can perform radon mitigation. See Testing and mitigating your home for radon.
After radon mitigation work is finished, re-testing should always be done to make sure the radon levels have been reduced to below 4 pCi/L.
Any building that touches the ground is more at risk of radon exposure, so the type of foundation a mobile home has is the main factor in deciding whether testing should be done. Mobile homes with a concrete or block wall foundation have the highest risk, while homes on piers, blocks, or axles with skirting are at moderate risk. Homes without skirting have the lowest risk. Radon moves through the ground and will travel the easiest path, so if it can escape from under the mobile home, the risk is lower. However, if there are walls or skirting blocking its escape, it may rise into the living space. The Health Department recommends that everyone test their home for radon.
