January 14, 2025
January is National Radon Action Month, and it’s a great time to test your home for radon. Did you know that all homes, regardless of construction type or style, can have elevated radon levels of radon? Because radon is invisible and odorless, the only way to know if your home has a high level of radon is to test.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color, odor or taste. It results from the natural breakdown of uranium found in soils, rock, and water. Radon in Colorado is generated by the radioactive decay of radium, which is present in uranium-bearing soils found throughout the Rocky Mountains and the eastern plains.
Why is it dangerous?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, and CDPHE reports that it causes 500 lung cancer deaths a year in Colorado alone. In Colorado, the average indoor radon level is about 6.4 pCi/L. Living in a home with average levels of radon in Colorado for one year is like having more than 200 chest x-rays every year.
How likely is it that my home has high radon levels?
Nearly 50 percent of Colorado homes have unhealthy levels of cancer-causing radon. El Paso County has been designated as an area with high radon potential, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
What can I do to protect myself and my family from radon?
Start by testing your home for radon. Test kits are generally inexpensive to purchase, and you can mitigate homes and buildings that have high levels of radon with simple and affordable venting techniques. Do you need assistance with the cost of testing and mitigating radon? Check out these resources:
- CDPHE offers free and low-cost radon test kits. To learn more about radon, or how to use a test kit, watch our video. To find a test kit, visit colorado.gov/testing-your-home-radon.
- CDPHE’s Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance Program can assist those in need with the costs of radon mitigation systems. Visit the site to apply or for information about eligibility. For more information, the EPA recommends the following resources: National Radon Proficiency Program at nrpp.info and National Radon Safety Board at www.nrsb.org.
Can I test my home for radon if I am a renter?
Yes. Tenants have the right to test their homes for radon. As of August 7, 2023, landlords in Colorado are required to disclose radon information when a tenant signs a lease agreement. Tenants can void their lease if the landlord does not include the radon disclosure or if a landlord does not make reasonable efforts to mitigate elevated radon levels after 180 days. Learn more at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/testing-your-home-radon.
Do I need to test if I already have a radon mitigation system?
If you already have radon mitigation system, you should retest your home every few years to make sure the system is working properly.
How do I choose a test kit?
When shopping for a radon test kit, look for kits marked “certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program.” While no level of radon is safe, the recommended action limit for radon is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If your house tests higher than 4 pCi/L, you can find information about mitigation and how to choose a certified mitigation contractor at elpasocountyhealth.org/services/radon and cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/testing-your-home-radon.