I recently received a radon report from the Minnesota Radon Project. I thought I would share this information with our LACR community.

I found out about radon gas when I first moved to this state. I decided to test my basement for a long term test which is recommend type the Minnesota Radon Project.

So for 357 days I left the radon detector in my basement undisturbed. I finally sent the radon detector back to the project for reading. It's best to have a long term test since concentrations can vary from day to day, season to season, and year to year. Inside a house radon can vary from floor to floor and even room to room within a floor.

The Finding
The average radon concentration was 2.2 pCi/L in my basement.

What radon concentrations are safe?
Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. In a high radon area like Minnesota where the average home has 3 pCi/L, more people die from radon-induced lung cancer than from many other cancers; include those of skin, brain, bone, throat, stomach, and liver. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you should take action to lower the radon in any living space that exceeds 4pCi/L. Most US houses have radon concentrations below 2pCi/L. Most houses with higher radon can be modified (mitigated) to lower their radon to below 2/Ci/L for a reasonable cost. This recommendation is based on the best available scientific evidence that indicates that your chance of getting lung cancer increases by 30% if you live for 20 years in a radon concentration of 4 pCi/L. The higher the radon concentration, the higher your lung cancer risk.

Test Your Home

If you want to test your home or find more information, please visit The Minnesota Radon Project website.


Chris Kovacs