JACKSON, Wyo. — January is National Radon Action Month and the Teton County Health Department (TCHD) is encouraging the public to test their residence, office or rental for radon.
According to the TCHD, radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs from the breakdown of uranium in rocks, soil and groundwater. Radon gas enters homes and buildings from the soil beneath and can build up to high levels indoors. When people breathe radon, the radioactive decay products damage lung tissue, which can increase the likelihood of developing lung cancer.
The Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country today.
Teton County is designated a Zone 1 Radon Area, meaning predicted average indoor screening levels are greater than the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L).
Any building can have a radon problem, whether it is old or new, well-sealed or drafty,
with or without a basement or crawlspace. Radon gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless, making testing the primary way to know levels in indoor spaces. If elevated levels are detected, residents are urged to get their homes or offices inspected or mitigated by a certified radon professional.
Short-term radon test kits are available for $10 at the Teton County Health Department, located at 460 East Pearl Avenue in Jackson.
For more information, call the Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (307) 732-8490 or visit www.epa.gov/radon.
