Radon
Last updated: 3/26/2026
Iowa Radon may have free radon tests available throughout the year! To check current availability, please visit www.iowaradon.org/ for more information.
What is Radon?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can cause cancer. You can’t see, smell or taste it, but radon may be in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the first leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. According to the EPA, the entire state of Iowa is considered at high risk for radon gas in homes. High levels of radon can be found in any type of home, so everyone needs to test their home.
Radon & Cancer in Iowa
Iowa HHS, the Iowa Cancer Consortium and state partners have developed and are implementing a state comprehensive cancer control plan. The plan encourages health-care providers to routinely ask patients about healthy lifestyle factors including in-home radon testing, local health departments to provide access to low-cost radon test kits and encourages all Iowan’s to test their home for radon. Priority VI of the plan addresses decreasing the environmental exposure to radon.
Testing Your Home for Radon
There are two types of radon tests available, which are short-term and long-term radon tests. 
A short-term radon test is performed to measure radon levels within 2-7 days. It is done to screen a home for radioactive gas. Short-term radon tests are conducted if you want to test a radon property, and you are planning to decrease the radon levels.
On the other hand, the long-term test can measure radon levels for a minimum of 90 days. This type of test is ideal if you want to estimate radon’s annual average in your home. It would be best to perform the long-term radon test in both heating and non-heating seasons.
Linn County Public Health: Radon Test Kit
To find a radon mitigation specialist in your area click on the following list or map:
Iowa Credentialed Radon Mitigation Specialists (129.06 KB).pdf (274.86 KB).pdf
