"The response has been overwhelming," said Eleanor Divver, radon coordinator at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "People testing and asking questions."with KSL in November. Since then, more than 11,000 Utah residents have ordered tests for the cancer-causing gas.Radon action levelsThe Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homeowners install a radon mitigation system if the level is 4 pCi/L or higher.
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally in the ground as uranium and other metals break down, according to the EPA. It enters homes through cracks and gaps in the foundation. "Our level went from 31.3 to 1.3," Robbins said after installing a mitigation system in her home. "I feel so much more comfortable in my house now."Robbins said testing for radon is inexpensive, easy and the only way to know if your home has elevated levels.Following her diagnosis, Robbins said it was an emotional holiday season because everything is more precious to her now.
"I'm on a mission. We're going to save lives," she said. "This isn't going to happen to somebody else just because of ignorance."Heidi Parker lives a few streets away from Robbins and decided to test her home after learning of Robbins' cancer diagnosis.Her home came back with a radon level of 19.7 pCi/L.
"This house is 53 years old and we had no idea," Watson said. "I have a walkout basement, so I thought I had enough ventilation in this house." Of the more than 11,000 tests requested after Robbins shared her story in November, about 8,500 were provided for free by the mitigation company Utah Radon Services.
Utah is known for radon. This isn’t new news. Get a radon filter thing for your house. Keep a window cracked
This is my basement. You would think the state would require builders to install radon systems in every home. All of the specifications for safety and inspections but the radon issue is left out?