Five of seven homes in Iowa have elevated indoor radon levels, which can cause lung cancer. Test kits are available at many hardware stores and Linn County Public Health.
Test your home
Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure.
Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test
- For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.
- If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
- The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than twice EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately.
Fix your home
- If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more.
- If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home.
- Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. A list of certified radon professionals is available by calling the Radon Hotline 1-800-383-5992 or visit the IDPH website.
Re-test
If the radon test result is lower than 4 pCi/L, continue to monitor by retesting every two years or if building conditions change. Homes can be tested at any time of year, but radon levels fluctuate during the year. If a summer test shows low levels, the housing should be retested in cold weather as well.
For more information on radon, visit any of these sites:
www.lchh.org/radon
www.epa.gov/radon
