Monica Thayer, Family Resource Management Agent
Photo Courtesy of Canva
Radon is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless radioactive gas that is naturally occurring. One in four homes in Kansas have a high level of radon. Most counties in the state of Kansas, including all four counties in the River Valley District, are known to have high levels of radon. Testing is the only way to know the radon levels in your home. January is Kansas Radon Action Month so now is a perfect time to check your home for radon.
Outdoors, radon is diluted and poses no problem. However, inside an enclosed space, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels. Radon can become trapped inside homes, schools, and workplaces through cracks and holes in the foundation. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
Winter is an excellent time to test your home. You can purchase a radon test at your local River Valley Extension District Office today for a fee of $9. Each test comes with everything you need, including detailed instructions on how to properly implement the test. You’ll mail the completed test with no additional cost to receive your results.
Once you receive your test results, if radon levels are high, installing a radon mitigation system is the answer. The Kansas Radon Program has a list of certified radon service professionals that can install a radon mitigation system. If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, the Kansas Radon Program even has information on how to complete this in-depth project. Both these resources can be found online at www.kansasradonprogram.org.
Want to learn more about radon? The Kansas Radon Program is hosting quick 30-minute virtual “Radon 101” webinars. Register online at https://shorturl.at/B1jCa.
- January 13, 2026, at 2 pm
- February 3, 2026, at 6 pm
Additional resources, facts, and information on radon can be found online at www.kansasradonprogram.org, at your local Extension Office, or by contacting Monica Thayer, Family Resource Management Extension Agent, at 785-527-5084 or mthayer@ksu.edu.
