Testing checks for radon
By Joy Miller
Radon testing is essential for protecting indoor air quality and health.
Short-term tests provide quick snapshots of radon levels, while long-term monitors deliver more accurate, reliable data by accounting for fluctuations over time. Both play important roles, but long-term monitoring is considered the gold standard for assessing true exposure risk.
Understanding radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas from uranium breakdown in soil and rock. It seeps into homes through foundation cracks, floors and walls. Because radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless, testing is the only detection method. Long-term exposure to high radon concentrations is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Short-term radon tests
Running 2–7 days (sometimes up to 90 days), short-term tests use charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers or digital detectors. They’re affordable, widely available and provide quick results. However, radon levels fluctuate daily and seasonally. Short-term tests may miss these variations.
Long-term radon monitors
Long-term monitors run at least 90 days, often extending to a year, using alpha track detectors, continuous electronic monitors or advanced digital systems. They provide more accurate averages by accounting for seasonal and daily fluctuations.
Continuous monitors can track radon trends in real time, offering insights into how levels change with weather or ventilation patterns. This data is essential for making informed mitigation decisions. While they require more time and slightly higher costs than short-term kits, long-term monitoring remains the most reliable method for determining whether radon mitigation is necessary.
Why both matter
Short-term tests are practical for quick checks. Long-term monitors provide the comprehensive data needed to evaluate health risks and guide mitigation strategies. It is recommend starting with a short-term test and, if elevated levels are detected, confirming with another short-term test or long-term monitor before investing in remediation.
Taking action
Radon testing is a step in safeguarding health. If elevated levels are found, professional radon mitigation systems can reduce concentration and protect your household for years to come.
Short-term radon test kits are available for $15 at the Johnson County K-State Extension Office in Olathe. For more information, call 913-715-7000.
Joy Miller is Family and Community Wellness Extension agent at K-State Extension Johnson County.