Photo: Teton County Health Department

JACKSON, Wyo. — This winter, the Teton County Health Department is reminding you to test your residence, office or rental for radon. Short-term radon test kits are available for $10 at the Teton County Health Department, located at 460 East Pearl Avenue in Jackson.

Radon is a radioactive gas:

  • Radon is produced when uranium that occurs naturally in rocks, soil and groundwater breaks down.
  • Radon gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless, so you cannot sense its presence.

Radon can enter buildings:

  • Radon can enter homes and other buildings through small cracks and holes in the foundation, where it becomes trapped and accumulates in the air.
  • Any building can have a radon problem, whether it is old or new, well-sealed or drafty, with or without a basement or crawlspace.

Teton County has a high potential for elevated levels of radon indoors:

  • Teton County, WY is designated as a Zone 1 Radon Area, meaning predicted average indoor screening levels are greater than the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of four picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L).

Radon gas can build up inside and become a health concern:

  • When people breathe radon, part of the breakdown process emits radioactive byproducts that can 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.

There is good news!

  • Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive.
  • Indoor radon levels can be brought down successfully. This is typically achieved by installing a mitigation system.
  • If elevated radon levels are detected, residents are urged to get their homes inspected or mitigated by a certified radon professional.
Photo: Teton County Health Department

For more information about testing and local resources, please call the Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (307) 732-8490 or stop by their office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. to purchase a test kit.

To learn more about radon, see the following resources: