Radon Test Kits

Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that is produced from the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. Indoor levels can be very high. It doesn’t matter where you live, how old your home is, or what type of foundation it has – the only way to know the level of Radon gas in your home is to perform a test.

Radon enters buildings through cracks in the floors or walls; usually, the highest concentrations are in the basement or crawlspace. Most exposure to Radon comes from being indoors. Licensed daycares and schools are required to test and mitigate by law, but we have no current regulations for our homes. Hopefully, we will have an Iowa policy in the future – to test for Radon prior to the transfer of ownership so that new owners are aware of the health risks for their families and can mitigate them.

7 of 10 homes in Iowa have an unacceptable level of Radon.
The average indoor radon concentration in Iowa is more than six times the national average.

By breathing in radon gas, it gets trapped in our lungs and damages the lung tissue. Exposure to Radon gas causes lung cancer, in fact, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. (second only to smoking).

Radon testing is very easy and inexpensive. Kits are available to pickup at the Pottawattamie County Public Health Clinic or Planning Department office at a cost of $12.50.

Radon Test Kits

Pottawattamie County: (712) 328-5792
Iowa Radon Hotline: (800) 383-5992

The Iowa Department of Public Health supports the Iowa Radon Hotline and maintains a list of licensed radon mitigation professionals.

Iowa Department of Public Health Radon Information

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