January, is National Radon Action Month, and in the State of Colorado, Governor Hickenlooper has proclaimed January as Radon Action Month. On January 25th, 2011 all across the country, individual states will be arriving to their Capital Steps to help promote Radon Awareness in conjunction with Cansar a non-profit who’s main focus is to provide education and awareness to the general population as to the seriousness health impacts of Radon. RDS along with CanSar, EPA and Governor Hickenlooper urge all Coloradans to test their homes for Radon, and to have a radon system installed should the results of their testing, be above the EPA’ s action guideline of 4.0 pCi/L (piccocurries per liter of air).
Radon is the leading cause of lung-cancer in non-smokers, and claims more than 20,000 life’s a year. Radon is a natural occurring gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas. So you can’t see it or smell it like Natural Gas.
When radon enters a home and is trapped, the levels become a health concern, as the gas cannot dissipate as it would naturally outside. When you breath in radon, radon particles can attach themselves to the linings of your lungs and disturb the cells, thus potentially causing lung-cancer. To learn more about radon you can find more information on the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/
In Colorado 1 out of every 2 homes has elevated radon, 95% of Colorado counties are listed in EPA’s Zone 1- levels greater than 4.0 pCi/L. With the makeup of the geology of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, nearly all of the state is at risk to have elevated radon levels in their home.
