Radon Levels in El Paso County
This page collects every verified radon statistic for El Paso County and Colorado in one place, each linked to the government or university source that published it, retrieved July 2026. Radon content online leans heavily on unsourced numbers; this page exists so Colorado Springs area homeowners, agents, and reporters can cite the real ones.
The numbers, with sources
| Statistic | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EPA radon zone for El Paso County | Zone 1 (highest potential) | El Paso County Public Health |
| County homes testing at or above 4 pCi/L, 2005-2023 | Over 40 percent | El Paso County Public Health |
| Average indoor radon level, Colorado | About 6.4 pCi/L | El Paso County Public Health |
| Colorado homes above the action level | About half | CDPHE |
| EPA action level | 4.0 pCi/L | EPA |
| Colorado lung cancer deaths attributed to radon, per year | About 500 | CDPHE |
| US lung cancer deaths attributed to radon, per year | About 21,000 | EPA |
How to read these numbers
- The test data is voluntary. County and state figures summarize tests that residents chose to run and report. Homes that tested are not a random sample of all homes, so treat the percentages as strong signals, not census-grade measurements.
- Zone 1 is a prediction, not a reading. The EPA Map of Radon Zones predicts county-average screening levels to guide builders and officials. Individual homes above and below 4 pCi/L exist in every zone, which is why the EPA says test regardless of zone.
- House-to-house variation is the rule. Two homes on one street can test far apart because entry depends on the soil paths and pressure balance under each foundation.
- Season matters. Closed-house winter conditions typically produce higher readings than open-window seasons, which is why El Paso County Public Health pushes testing in winter and January is National Radon Action Month.
Why this county runs high
The Colorado Geological Survey attributes radon to the decay of natural uranium in rock and soil, found in all parts of the state. El Paso County's particular version of that story is granite: the Pikes Peak massif on its western edge, whose weathered material the USGS identifies as a source of uranium and its decay products, and the granite-derived sediments that underlie the Palmer Divide, the plains, and the Fountain Creek valley. Area-by-area context lives on our county and area pages, from Monument to Fountain.
From number to fix
A result at or above 4 pCi/L is the EPA's threshold for fixing your home, and between 2 and 4 the agency suggests considering action. The fix is a mitigation system explained on our radon mitigation page, installed by a contractor holding the Colorado license the state began requiring on July 1, 2022, and priced per the state-published ranges in our cost guide. Testing options are on the radon testing page.