Public health officials note that small children are more susceptible to radon gas damage than adults.

Radon gas levels are a real issue in Colorado.  Colorado tops the nation in the highest average levels of radon measured by the Environmental Protection Agency and again tested and confirmed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  Colorado has gone as far as to create a Radon Outreach Program and extensive information sources online to inform its citizenry about the prevalence of radon and how to deal with it. Colorado has a referral system for licensed contractors that specialize in and are specially trained for radon testing and mitigation. Certified Radon Mitigation Pros is fully trained, licensed, and insured in the State of Colorado for working with and alleviating this important risk factor to public health. 

The reason Colorado has such high incidences of radon gas seeping up through the ground and into homes and businesses, schools and elsewhere is our soil’s geological makeup. Colorado has a plethora of minerals and elements that occur in our state, a reason that Colorado is known for critical materials mined for everything from the defense industry to gemstones. Uranium is one of the elements that occur naturally under our rugged terrain, and as it breaks down through natural processes it releases radon gas during decomposition. That radon gas works its way towards the surface. As it meets with air, it mixes and becomes part of the harmless combination of inert gases that make up the air we breathe. 

Radon has a penchant, however, for more easily percolating up where the soil has been disturbed, rock removed, or slabs poured that create other chemical reactions with the surrounding soil. This equates to where there is construction. Radon will naturally rise and pool in places where there is little to no air movement and will collect and sit, because it is denser than surrounding air.  Some of the stillest air it can find to replace is in the dead air space under your slab, within the air space under your house, or into the quiet of air trapped in the spaces created by the studs in your walls. Over time radon works its way into the air in your home, exposing you to potentially deadly radioactivity. If you happen to smoke, or have a smoker in the house, the risk factors are greatly increased.

Many types of test kits are available, including those available at big box and hardware stores. The tests require being exposed to the air for a varied length of time to gather particles. The test is then shipped to a facility to get the sample tested, and results are returned to the homeowner. Results need to be verified by a second test if the range results are within those suggesting radon mitigation is required.  There are several questions that arise with home tests, among them accuracy, how long has the test been sitting on the store’s shelf (because they do have shelf lives and are often unmarked), and how reliable is the testing facility. Most mail order radon tests require very short-term exposure, often as little as one day. Radon testing to be accurate needs to occur for a far longer exposure period under fairly stringently controlled conditions to be accurate. There are some types of testing equipment that can provide results in less than 90 days and be fairly accurate if used by a certified radon testing professional.