Radon Brochureradon
A brief guide on how to keep you
safe from radon
RADON
TEST
What is radon?
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas found in the soil and common
throughout Minnesota. Because soil is porous, radon moves up from
the soil and into the home. The gas can accumulate in the air we
breathe becoming a health concern.
Why is it a health concern?
Radon gas decays into small particles that are radioactive and when
we inhale these small particles they can damage the lung. Exposure
to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. In
Minnesota, more than two in five homes have radon levels that pose
a significant health risk.
Percent of MN Properties Tested
for Radon that are ≥ 4 pCi/L
(Years 2010 – 2020)
16% – 35%
36% – 50%
51% – 64%
65% – 80%
What is a safe level of radon?
Any radon level poses some health risk and it is not possible to reduce
radon to zero. The best approach is to lower the radon level as much
as possible. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the
action level at 4 pCi/L (picocuries of radon per liter of air). At 4 pCi/L
or higher it is recommended a radon mitigation system is installed to
reduce the radon level.
What can I do?
MDH recommends all Minnesotans test their home for radon. A
radon test is the only way to find out how much radon is in your
home. You can test your home yourself or hire a licensed professional.
The result from a properly performed test will help you decide if you
need to reduce your home’s radon levels.
Test for radon
The two basic radon tests available are a short-
term and a long-term test. Do a short-term
test first. Your local health department or
government agency may offer test kits at
reduced prices. Information on where to find
radon test kits can be found at the MDH
website. When buying a home consider hiring a licensed radon
professional to perform the test. The back of this guide provides
recommended actions to take based on the test results.
Reduce radon – if high
If radon is high, hire a licensed radon
professional to install a radon mitigation
system. Radon mitigation systems use a fan to
pull air from the soil and exhaust it outdoors.
All systems should reduce radon below the
EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Once installed,
the licensed professional will place a tag on the system. Call
MDH if you have questions or wish to request an inspection.
Find more information
mn.gov/radon – Information on radon and
where to find radon test kits.
mn.gov/radonpro – List of licensed radon
professionals.
Radon Testing Guidelines
Less than 2
Between 2 to 8
8 or greater
Start with a short-term test
Understanding your f irst test result
Result (pCi/L) Action
Retest every 2 to 5 years
Do a second test, either a
short or long-term test
Do another short-term test
Less than 2
Between 2 to 4
4 or greater
Understanding your second test result
Result (pCi/L) Action
Retest every 2 to 5 years
Consider mitigating
Mitigate
Deciding to mitigate should be based on the long-term test
result or the average of two short-term tests.
In real estate transactions, the decision to mitigate should
be based on a continuous monitor test or the average of two
short-term tests done side by side.
Indoor Air Unit
PO Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164–0975
651-201-4601
health.indoorair@state.mn.us
mn.gov/radon
Updated 9/2022