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Radon in Northeast ColoradoColorado We have radon in homes and other buildings in northeastern Colorado. About 46 percent of homes in Colorado have a level that is higher than considered safe. In the northeastern part of the state, there is not enough data to make a valid estimate of in-home radon levels but looking at the test results, it appears to be near the 46 percent state average. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer with smoking being the first. For those who don't smoke, it is the number one cause of lung cancer. Smoking along with a high radon level in the home, puts one at much higher risk of the disease. A map of the United State showing levels of radon indicates that Colorado homes can have high readings as do the homes in states surrounding us. There are just a few counties in the south central part of Colorado where homes may not have high levels of radon. There really are no safe levels of radon but the EPA has set 4 pico curies per liter of air (pCi/L) as the highest limit a building should contain. In northeastern Colorado, some homes tested have had levels in the 30+ pCi/L but some readings in Colorado have been as high as 600. Radon gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted; the only way to know if you have a problem is to do a radon test. To get the best results from a short term radon test kit, normally taking three to seven days, all the windows and doors should be shut such as in cold weather. With a long term radon test kit, generally three months to a year, normal living conditions with people going in and out and the opening of windows, are expected. If radon levels are over 4 pCi/L, a building should have a radon reduction system installed or, in other words, be mitigated. Mitigating an existing home costs between $1200 and $2500. However, in northeast Colorado, there are no known certified mitigators so they must be imported from the Front Range. This can increase costs due to distance. If a house is being built, and a system can be installed concurrently costing about $500. When acquiring a mitigator, it is important that the person be certified. Certification means they have been trained in the proper techniques of installing a radon mitigation system. A mitigation system in an existing house with a basement usually means putting a PVC pipe through the basement floor into the dirt and running it up through closets or other out-of-the-way locations through the roof. A fan is put on the system pulling the radon out of dirt before it can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, spaces around pipes, the sump pump and other openings. If a house has a crawl space, a perforated pipe is snaked through the crawl space then covered with sheets of heavy plastic. The sheets of plastic are sealed together and sealed to the foundation walls. A PVC pipe is attached to the perforated pipe and again run up through the house and out through the roof. If a house must have a radon reduction system installed, there are several things to make sure the mitigator does. These include putting the needed fan in at attic or some other location above the living space. The fan should not be put below a living space or in a space people are habitating. Second, all pipes part of the reduction system should be labeled to prevent mistaken use by plumbers and others. Third, there should be a system indicator installed to warn the home owner if it is not working properly. Fourth, make sure the venting pipe coming out of the roof is at the right location to prevent back draft. Homes are not alone in being effected by radon. Other buildings, such as schools and businesses, can be affected, as well. It is important that all buildings be tested even if they have a radon reduction system built into them. The test assures the mitigation system is working correctly. Contact the Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Kit Carson and Washington County Extension offices for more information on radon and to receive a free short term radon test kit. You can go to the EPA website at www.epa.gov as well as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at www.cdphe.state.co.us to get additional information. 3/24/08 Date: 3/19/08
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