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Indoor Air Quality
There are a number of substances and issues that can lead to indoor air quality concerns, including radon, mold, asbestos, lead, second-hand smoke, carbon monoxide and meth labs. Below are a few common concerns and resources in San Miguel County:
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can't see, smell, or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year in the United States. Radon levels inside homes are the primary concern, because this is where people spend most of their time. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths than radon does. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Learn more about radon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Our office has a free radon monitor that anyone can borrow to test for radon. Email publichealth@sanmiguelcountyco.gov, to borrow the device and determine radon levels in your home.
The EPA recommends mitigation in your home if radon levels are 4.0 pCi/L or higher. If radon levels are high in your home, there may be financial assistance to help mitigate the radon. Click here to visit the Colorado Department. of Public Health & Environment to find out more.
Mold naturally exists both indoors and outdoors. In general, mold is beneficial to the environment and does not cause problems for humans. When there is excessive moisture in a home or business (leaking room or plumbing) mold can grow to levels that can produce fungal allergy and respiratory infections or worsen certain illnesses, such as asthma, for the occupants.
Mold can be eliminated by first removing the source of moisture and then disinfecting the surface to kill the mold.
- Click here for cleanup guidelines for mold from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Click here to learn more from the Environmental Protection Agency's interactive Mold House Tour.
The Environmental Health Department receives many calls per year regarding mold in rental properties. Unfortunately the department has no jurisdiction in residential homes or apartments. You may want to seek legal advice for renters in these cases. Click here to find more information about mold from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learn more about some other indoor air quality issues from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by clicking on the specific concern below: