Radon

Order a free radon test kit!

Radon Basics

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. Radon is naturally produced in the soil but becomes harmful if trapped and concentrated in the air we breathe. In can enter homes through spaces, cracks, or gaps. 


Radon Health Risks
The American Lung Association reports that radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. Lung cancer caused by radon exposure results in 21,000 deaths annually in the United States and 400 deaths annually in Iowa.

Exposure in Iowa

The average indoor radon concentration for homes in the United States is about 1.3 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). When the radon in a building or home reaches 4 pCi/L, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking action to fix the building or home. The Iowa Radon Survey has indicated that Iowa has the largest percentage (71.6%) of homes above the US Environmental Protection Agency action level.

Testing for Radon

The Scott County Health Department urges you to test your home today. Testing for radon is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk. The test kit is safe, simple, and quick.

There are currently two free test programs in Iowa:

1. American Lung Association's Free Test Kit Program
2. Healthy Hometowns: Combat Cancer

Scott County residents are not eligible to order through Health Hometowns but can order a free radon test kit through the American Lung Association’s Test Kit Program. Residents may order one radon test kit per household. 

Additional test kits can be purchased through the American Lung Association or other online retailers. Test kits can also be purchased at home improvement and hardware stores.
 

Resources
For more information on radon, call the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ Radon Hotline at (800) 383-5992, or view the resources below.