January is National Radon Action Month. Rice County Public Health joins the Minnesota Department of Health and US
Environmental Protection Agency to encourage everyone to test their home for radon, the invisible radioactive gas found at elevated levels in many Minnesota homes.
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who never smoked. Fortunately, the risk is largely preventable through testing homes and fixing radon problems. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is to test.
With more people working and schooling from home, it’s even more important to test homes.
Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. Test devices are usually placed in the home for 2-5 days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but testing can be done year-round.
Test kits are available at many hardware stores, or directly from radon testing laboratories. Rice County residents may also stop by the Faribault office located in the lower level of the Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Third St. NW, to request a free kit.
Health professionals recommend testing for radon during real estate transactions and a radon test should be incorporated into a home inspection. Sellers must disclose any prior radon testing and provide a twopage publication to buyers, under state law. MDH licenses home inspectors and other professionals who test for radon. A list of currently licensed radon measurement professionals can be found on the Find a Radon Measurement Professional page on the MDH site.
In homes found to have high radon levels, radon reduction typically involves installing a venting pipe and fan to pull the gas from under the home to the outside. This reduces the amount of radon in the home to low levels. A list of currently licensed radon mitigation professionals can be found on the Find a Radon Mitigation Professional page on the MDH website.
MDH conducts free inspections of radon mitigation systems installed after June 1, 2020. The inspections ensure systems were installed correctly and meet minimum requirements. To learn more, contact the MDH Indoor Air Unit to request an inspection at mailto:health.indoorair@state.mn.us.
To help residents get a more accurate picture of radon levels in Minnesota, MDH has a series of maps showing information about Radon in Minnesota. Some of the key findings were:
• About 40% of Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon.
• The average radon level in Minnesota homes is about 4.2 pCi/L compared to 1.3 pCi/L nationwide.
• Only about 1-2% of homes in Minnesota are tested annually, but every home in Minnesota should be
tested at least every five years.
• Testing and mitigation is less frequent in communities with lower incomes and more renters.
Learn more about the radon maps, radon testing, radon mitigation, and licensure in Minnesota:
• MN Public Health Radon Data Maps
• Purchase a low-cost radon test kit
• Radon in Homes
• Or call the MDH Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or 1-800-798-9050
