Provided by Saint Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health
Visit the St. Paul-Ramsey County Radon information page

Radon is a naturally occurring element often found in soil and groundwater.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas.  It is a decay product of uranium which is a common element in many soils found in Minnesota. 

Radon can enter a home from tiny cracks, sump pumps, drains and pipes in the foundation.
Radon levels can vary widely from home to home in a neighborhood.  Entry of radon into a home depends on many factors including soil type, type of foundation, previously installed radon reduction mechanisms, type of heating/air conditioning system and weather.

Radon causes lung cancer.
Radon is a known human carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer.  If you spend a great amount of time in your home (for example, if you are retired, a stay-at-home family, disabled or work from home) and your home has elevated levels of radon, your risk of developing lung cancer due to radon exposure increases. Smokers exposed to radon have an even greater risk of lung cancer.  The following organizations recognize the health risks associated with radon and recommend testing homes and making repairs for cleaner, healthier air:

American Lung Association
American Cancer Society
American Medical Association
The Surgeon General
National Academy of Sciences
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Testing your home for radon is easy.
Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive. Two types of tests are available: Short-term tests take a minimum of two days to complete and provide a "snap shot" of the level of radon in your home; and long-term tests take three to twelve months to conduct and will give you a seasonal average of the level of radon. Test kits can be purchased through your local county health department or at local hardware stores. See below for information on obtaining a radon test kit.

Fixing a radon problems costs between $500 and $2500.
If high radon levels are detected in your home after a test, you should retest to confirm the elevated level of radon.  Once high radon levels are confirmed, a radon reduction system (typically a vent pipe, gravel under the foundation and a fan) needs to be installed to reduce radon levels. The installation of a radon reduction system by an EPA certified contractor is easy and will cost between $500 and $2500.

Get a list of certified radon mitigation contractors in Minnesota provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Get more information on improving the indoor air quality of your home.

Radon resistant new construction techniques will cost between $350 and $500.
It is more cost-effective to include radon-resistant features when building a home rather than installing a radon reduction system after the home is built. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that all new homes in Minnesota be built to include radon-resistant construction features that minimize radon entry into the home and make future radon problems easier to fix should they occur. If you are currently building a new home, ask your builder if they are using radon-resistant construction techniques.

The majority of counties in Minnesota are in Zone 1, an area with the greatest potential for high radon levels.
High levels of radon have been found all over Minnesota.  The EPA estimates that one in five homes in Minnesota have elevated levels of radon. Check the radon zone of your county.

Test Your Home for Radon TODAY!

For more information about radon or to obtain a radon test kit:

In Ramsey County

Saint Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health,
Environmental Health Section
Radon information: 651.773.4483
General line: 651.773.4466
www.co.ramsey.mn.us search "radon"

In Hennepin County

Hennepin County Environmental Health
Radon information: 952.351.5225
General line: 952.351.5200
www.hennepin.us search "radon"

In other metro-area or Greater Minnesota Counties:

Minnesota Department of Health-Indoor Air
Metro area: 651.201.4601
Greater Minnesota: 1.800.798.9050
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/index.html

American Lung Association of Minnesota
651.227.8014
www.alamn.org

In Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Family Health and Services
1.888.LOW.RADON (1.888.569.7236)
www.dhfs.state.wi.us/programs/publichealth.htm