Introduction
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer with long-term exposure. Approximately half of Colorado homes – spanning every county in the state – have levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended action limit of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). Radon is a natural radioactive decay product of uranium, which is abundant in our state’s geology.
On average, radon levels in Gilpin County homes are over 2.5 times the EPA recommended action limit. Fortunately, testing and mitigation are both easy and inexpensive.
Is your home safe from radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Uranium decays and creates radium, radium decays and creates radon gas. Radon occurs naturally in soil. Due to the geology of Colorado, homes in our state have higher levels of radon than the national average.
Radon can enter any home. Radon is drawn in through cracks and gaps in the foundation. About 50% of homes in Colorado have high radon levels.
Testing for radon is easy. Do-it-yourself short-term and long-term radon test kits are easy to set up and available for less than $35.
Fixing the problem is easy and inexpensive. New homes can be built with systems in place. To test for radon, a fan may need to be added. Systems can be added to existing homes. There are many options to fix this problem. Find certified contractors at ColoradoRadon.info. Contact your health department for information.
Living in a home with average levels of radon (4 pCi/L) for one year is like having 200 chest x-rays every year. That’s more than three chest x-rays per week, per person. This applies to every person in the home.
Radon causes cancer. Every year in the U.S., over 20,000 people die from lung cancer caused by radon. Radon decays into radioactive particles that, when inhaled, can damage the DNA in sensitive lung cells. The damaged cells can become cancerous.
Contact Your Health Department. Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. 1-800-846-3986 | ColoradoRadon.info.
Radon testing
- Free test kits are available for Gilpin County residents at the CSU Extension Office. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.
- County residents can also order a free radon test kit.
- Colorado residents of other counties can also order a free radon test kit.
Note: Test kits are limited to one per household and are available while supplies last.
Radon mitigation
Licensed contractors serving Gilpin County
- All Colorado Radon Mitigation, Inc. – (720) 726-4556
- American Radon, LLC – (720) 465-1495
- Front Range Radon, LLC – (303) 887-7512
- Protect Environmental – (877) 508-8850
- Radon Service Pros – (720) 295-6426
- RDS Environmental – (888) 282-2045
- Rocky Mountain Radon United, LLC – (303) 601-6239
Low income mitigation assistance
Residents that meet certain income and eligibility requirements may qualify for a free radon mitigation system through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The state of Colorado hopes to provide up to 100 free radon mitigation systems each year. Visit the low income radon mitigation assistance page to learn more about the program and complete the application.
Additional information