Citizens for Clean Air in Pueblo for Education, Research, Action (CCAP-ERA), is a non-profit community organization whose mission is to protect the health and quality of life of residents of Southern Colorado. It works through paid staff, volunteers, community partnerships, and grant-funded projects to sponsor public education programs, data-gathering, and activities designed to reduce human exposure to toxic substances, primarily those present in air. It also strives to promote environmental justice among the diverse citizenry of Pueblo and Southern Colorado.

Radon exceeding EPA limits has been discovered in Florida homes and condos. Several independent studies have concluded the source is contaminated concrete.

"You probably thought radon was only found in northern states with rocky soil, well guess again because it’s being discovered in homes and condos all over Florida," according to Kevin Dickenson, a Palm Beach real estate agent with Prudential Florida Realty.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for more deaths every year than drunk drivers, according to the EPA. Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless and colorless radioactive gas that can be found in soil, granite, concrete and water. Before you get too excited, radon is also found in the air we breathe, and depending upon where you live, it can be as high as 0.75 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) according to Air Chek, Inc.

The EPA recommends fixing your home if radon levels are 4.0 pCi/L or higher.

Canada's engineers, architects and builders will get their first look later this month at what could be major revisions to the national building code.

Canadian Consulting Engineer is reporting this week in its online newsletter that the feds will introduce 800 technical changes covering the building code, the fire code and the plumbing code on November 29.

The codes were last updated in 2005.

Some of the changes will encompass public gathering spaces such as sports arenas and stadiums, churches, lecture halls and theaters.

There are changes earthquake design, air quality, radon protection, and water conservation, among others.

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Utah’s radiation programs have new leaders.

The new director of the Radiation Control Division is Rusty Lundberg, who has worked in the state’s solid waste and sustainability programs.

Lundberg replaces Dane Finerfrock, who has led radiation programs for the past seven years and retires at the month’s end.

“Rusty has excellent management and leadership skills,” said Utah Department of Environmental Quality Director Amanda Smith, “and will do an outstanding job in the Division of Radiation Control.”

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Smokers who have higher levels of vitamin B-6 and certain essential proteins in their blood have a lower risk of getting lung cancer than those deficient in these nutrients, according to a study by cancer specialists.

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