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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah’s deadliest geological hazard is a gas you can’t see or smell, and Utah officials say one in three homes have dangerously high levels.
Park City resident and avid outdoor sports enthusiast Bill Johnson said “It came as a shock” when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last year.
“They found it originated in the lung and metastasized all the way through my spine and hips and into my brain,” he said.
Johnson started looking for answers as to what led to the cancer, adding that he had a healthy diet, was active, and did not smoke. It was then that he learned radon exposure was the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Johnson said he tested for radon once when he first moved into his home more than a decade ago and again after his diagnosis in June 2023. Both times, the test did not detect high radon levels.
It wasn’t until October — when the windows and doors were all shut due to the cooler weather — that the test detected high levels of radon in his office where he worked from home over the last 14 years. He is now advocating for radon testing, advising that people test their homes seasonally.
“I don’t think there’s enough education with radon in Utah in general,” he said. “I’ve just been advocating for it because I grew up in Park City, and so I’m really just trying to reach our community as a whole to be more proactive about testing.”
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from uranium decaying in the soil.
The Utah Geological Survey identifies radon gas as “Utah’s most deadly geological hazard” as it has led to thousands of lung cancer deaths across the state. Radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, coming in second to smoking tobacco.
Local radon authorities say 200 to 300 Utahns die each year from radon-induced lung cancer as Utah has high uranium levels in its soil. While the radioactive gas occurs naturally, some homes are at a greater risk of collecting high gas concentrations depending on location and construction factors.
How to test your home
Johnson’s doctor, Dr. Wallace Akerley, explains the steps of radon testing in a short Huntsman Cancer Institute video, reminding Utahns that this process should be done every few years “as radon levels may change over time.”
Akerley said Utahns need to acquire a radon test kit and conduct a quick test using the instructions provided. If the test shows your home has unsafe levels, he said it is best to hire a professional to fix the problem. Johnson said it costs about $1,500 for mitigation efforts, but resources are available for lower-income families.
There are several ways to get a radon test, including requesting a free test on UtahRadon.org. The offer includes one free test per household. If Utahns want an additional test, they can order one at radon.utah.gov for just over $10 or purchase one at a hardware store.
Johnson said you can also purchase a radon monitor online that will provide you with the measurement levels throughout different times and seasons.
“We do a great job as Utahns not smoking and our tobacco use is limited, but we’re seeing more and more cases of lung cancer,” Johnson said, paraphrasing Akerley. “The Huntsman is managing those to the best of their ability, but we need to do something about this right now.”