Do you know where radon comes from?

Jan. 28, 2026

By Mary Wade Burnside

Do you live in a radon zone?
In Monongalia County, there is a 1 in 5 chance that homes have high levels of radon, compared to 1 in 15, the average in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
High levels of radon, an odorless and invisible gas that seeps into homes from the rocky formations of earth underneath, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Monongalia County Health Department conducts radon tests, and winter is the best time of year to do it.
That’s because the cold weather means it’s more likely that homes are closed up. That lack of ventilation provides a realistic gauge for radon levels, which shouldn’t reach 4 picocuries per liter or higher to be considered safe.
Because it’s such an ideal window for radon testing, MCHD will be offering a radon blitz for the month of February, and customers can go ahead and sign up now. Tests will cost $100, which is $25 off the usual price of $125. As long as the radon test is scheduled and paid for no later than the end of February, customers will get the deal, said Jennifer Costolo-Michael, program manager of MCHD Environmental Health.
There is an additional fee for out-of-county tests. The usual cost is $150 but it’s $125 as part of the February deal. Sanitarians can test within a 50-mile radius of Morgantown.
Sanitarian Evan Thomas has been conducting tests for about a year now.
“We come to your home or office and set up the equipment, and then leave it for 72 hours,” Thomas said.
He utilizes MCHD’s sophisticated continuous radon monitoring equipment, which yields more precise measurements than the charcoal canister test-at–home kits.
The ideal location to place the equipment is the lowest living area of a home, he added.
After the three-day time period, Thomas will return to collect the equipment and a report will be generated that provides the readings.
If the number is 4 picocuries per liter or higher, then the homeowner can perform mitigation techniques that will lower the radon levels in their home.
This might sound overwhelming, but a certified radon contractor can do the job by creating more ventilation and/or using a method that helps keep radon from entering a home. The average cost to have this done by a certified contractor is around $1,500, and generally can range between $1,000 and $2,500. New builds should automatically be better ventilated and more radon resistant, although a radon test should be conducted after any major renovations.
An MCHD sanitarian can provide a list of mitigation specialists.
Keep in mind that just because your neighbor has high levels of radon doesn’t mean you will too, and vice versa. Also, testing should be repeated every two years. The levels of radon can fluctuate in a neighborhood and over time. Another time to have a test done would be if residents start spending more time in a lower level of a home. A new home buyer might want to consider retesting if it’s been more than two years since the previous radon measurements were taken.
As noted, radon moves up through bedrock underneath the ground. Then it gets into the soil, and then up from the soil into the atmosphere. When radon comes up into the air outside, it’s harmless. When it comes up into your basement and into your house, it can become a problem.
This year, for the first time, individuals who want to schedule a radon test can use our online form by going to this web page and clicking on Radon Testing.

The customer will then receive a phone call to schedule the test and pay over the phone, or the individual could come to the MCHD offices at 453 Van Voorhis Road to pay in person.
While smoking remains the No. 1 cause of lung cancer, remember that being a smoker plus being exposed to radon will increase the risk even more. If you want to quit smoking, the state of West Virginia can help with that, providing free counseling calls and tobacco cessation equipment. For more information, go to this link.

Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department.