Radon Awareness in Pottawattamie County

Posted September 10, 2025
Posted by Public Health

Most people have heard of secondhand smoke, but few realize that radon, an invisible, odorless gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. And Iowa has the highest average radon levels in the nation, with seven out of ten homes testing at levels that pose a health risk. 

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that seeps into homes through soil, cracks, and building materials. At the EPA’s action level of 4 picocuries, exposure is roughly the same as smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day or receiving 200 chest x-rays per year. Because it cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, many families are unaware of the danger. Yet radon is estimated to cause about 12% of all lung cancer diagnoses, making it the leading cause of environmental cancer deaths in Iowa. 

Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon level. Fortunately, testing in Pottawattamie County is simple and easy to access: 

• Pottawattamie County Public Health offers radon test kits for $11. 

• Kits can be purchased and picked up at the Public Health Clinic or the Planning and Development Office. 

• For more information, call Pottawattamie County at 712-328-5792 or the Iowa Radon Hotline at 1-800-383-5992 

“As a Planner and Public Health official, I can’t stress enough how important it is to test your home for radon,” explains Matt Wyant, Planning and Development Director. “It’s the only way to know if your family is at risk from this invisible gas, and testing is both simple and affordable.” 

Radon exposure is preventable, but only if residents take the first step by testing their homes. By raising awareness, we can help protect families in Pottawattamie County from this hidden health risk.