Answer Line FAQs
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Should I be concerned about radon in my home?

Yes, radon is a risk factor in the development of lung cancer. It is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas emitted from uranium, a naturally occurring mineral in rocks and soil.  The only way to tell if your home has an elevated amount of radon is to use a reliable radon test. The age of your home or the amount of radon measured in your neighbor's house is not an indicator of the level of radon in your house. Testing is simple and inexpensive. 

If a new home is being built radon reduction methods can be planned for and installed during construction. The publication, Building a New Home: Have You Considered Radon? http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/builder.html provides guidance. For information on radon reduction in an existing home read the EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction, http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
Reference: A Citizen's Guide to Radon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Related Information:
Iowa Department of Public Health [http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/radon.asp]
Radon resources including listings of Radon Laboratories, Measurement Specialists, and Mitigation Specialists
 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/]
Publications relating to radon including radon reduction in schools and other large buildings, concerns of tenants, information for home buyers and sellers, considerations for new construction. Some publications are available in Spanish.
 
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