The group of advocates announced a goal for testing during the winter months when radon levels are highest .
" Radon is responsible for 21,000 deaths per year from lung cancer ," Akerley said . " In Utah , we would like to have at least 21,000 people have a radon test performed in their house by Feb . 14 ."
It ' s imperative that every Utahn test . Recognize that if you test , you can fix it .
– Eleanor Divver , Utah Department of Environmental Quality
The hope is to recognize and honor the estimated 21,000 Americans that die each year from radon-induced lung cancer , while also matching or exceeding the rate of testing that occurred in Utah in 2023 .
" It ' s imperative that every Utahn test . Recognize that if you test , you can fix it ," said Eleanor Divver , radon project coordinator at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Divver also shared that if you have other pulmonary issues , such as asthma , chronic bronchitis , or emphysema , radon can have a cascading impact , and that testing is crucial .
To meet the testing goal , Utah Radon Services is donating 21,000 free radon tests to UtahRadon . org . If a home tests high for radon , a certified radon mitigation company can install a permanent system in the home that will reduce the radon levels . Typically , this takes less than a day and costs between $ 1,700 and $ 1,900 . Non-smoking lung cancer is all too familiar to many Utahns , including Todd Smith , a Utah resident who lost his wife to the condition in late 2023 .