Iowa Radon Inspection Service

HOW CAN ELEVATED LEVELS OF RADON BE FIXED?
Licensed radon mitigation contractors can install a radon mitigation system that provides a permanent solution. A typical radon mitigation system includes a suction point that addresses the soil underneath the structure. A home that has been mitigated will usually have a much lower radon level than the EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L. Addressing residential radon issues is an excellent step toward assuring good indoor air quality. A list of licensed radon mitigation contractors can be obtained at www.idph.state.ia.us/Radon/Fix.aspx. Additional information can also be obtained from the state radon program at 1-800-383-5992, and the EPA’s website @ www.epa.gov/radon and the American Lung Association @ www.lungusa.org

www.lungusa.org

WHEN SHOULD RADON TESTING BE COMPLETED?.
Home buyers can test the home they are considering for purchase for radon by contacting a licensed radon measurement specialist. They can find a list of licensed radon measurement specialists at www.idph.state.ia.us/Radon/Test.aspx. The EPA recommends testing your home every two years to ensure radon levels stay below EPA action level. Environmental and/or structural changes may occur, such as home settling causing foundation cracks that could change radon levels. This also includes mitigated homes, to ensure mitigation system continues to work properly. The EPA also recommends retesting if you have renovated or altered your home since you last tested.

IDPH - Radon Program - Testing IDPH - Radon Program - Testing

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON?
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. Radiation emitted from radon can cause cellular damage that can lead to cancer when it strikes living tissue in the lungs. Radon is the first leading cause of cancer in nonsmokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. It is responsible for about 21,000 deaths every year in the U.S. EPA also estimates that long-term exposure to radon potentially causes approximately 400 deaths each year in Iowa.