Adapted from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) News Release, January 15, 2019
A new interactive map from MDH shows radon testing rates for every census tract in Minnesota counties and is available online at https://mndatamaps.web.health.state.mn.us/interactive/radontract.html
An estimated two in five homes in Minnesota have high levels of radon. The map presents radon test results from 2010-2016, as average annual testing rates per 10,000 housing units.
According to the Annual Testing Rate map from the Minnesota Public Health Data Access Portal of MDH, there were 79 properties tested annually (2010-2016) for radon per 10,000 housing units. Of these properties tested, 44 percent had elevated radon levels, at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the USEPA recommended action level. The census tract with the lowest rate of testing had less than one property tested per 10,000 units or .01 percent. The highest census tract had 321 properties tested annually per 10,000 housing units or 3.21 percent.
County level details are reported as in the following example:
Radon: Itasca County (2010-2016)
Average Annual Number of Properties Tested 114.1
Average Annual Properties Tested per 10,000 10.1
Properties Tested ≥ 2 pCi/L 425 (62.5%)
Properties Tested ≥ 4 pCi/L 215 (31.6%)
95th Percentile Radon Value pCi/L (^) 12.1
Average (Geometric) Radon Value pCi/L 2.2
Average (Arithmetic) Radon Value pCi/L 3.
The MDH new release notes that testing rates are generally lowest in areas with more households living in poverty.
For more information on radon testing and mitigation, visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/radon/index.html
or call the MDH Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or 1-800-798-9050.
United States