Ky.gov

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Radon Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Kentucky Radon Program works in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to provide education and awareness of the health hazards caused by radon to the citizens of Kentucky. Led by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the program works to promote statewide knowledge of the harm radon may bring.

What is Radon?

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon gets into the air you breathe through cracks, crevices and openings in the foundation. Radon gas is not visible and has no odor or taste. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, estimated to cause thousands of deaths annually. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

Any home not constructed to be radon resistant may have a radon problem. Nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has elevated radon levels. Testing the home is the only way to determine the radon level. Depending on the level of radon in the home, additional action may be needed. According to the EPA there is no known safe level of exposure to radon. The EPA strongly recommends immediate radon mitigation of the home if the test shows 4 picocuries (pCi/L) or more. If the radon test shows between 2 and 4 pCi/L, the owner should consider radon mitigation. Radon can also enter the home through well water but usually carries little risk in Kentucky. For more information about radon in drinking waterplease call the state radon office or the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

For more information about radon, visit Radon in Kentucky: A Story Map​.​​​

Promoting Radon Awareness

The Kentucky Radon Program encourages continuous education on radon gas. Through education and increased awareness, health hazards caused by radon can be reduced. To support radon awareness, the Kentucky Radon Program hosts a radon poster and video contest for schools. For questions, please contact Amber Ballinger.

​​Radon Action Month 2024

Governor's Proclamation 2024 ​

Radon Awareness Poster Contest

Poster Contest Information and Flyer
Artwork Submission Form 

Radon Poster Contest Winners​

Radon Awareness Video Contest

Video Contest Information and Flyer
Video Submission Form​

Video Contest Winner​: First Place

Vid​eo Contest W​inner: Second Place

Video Contest Winner: Third Place​

Radon Comic Boo​k

Invisible Enemy: The Rise of Radon Comic Book

​

Documentation

EPA Citizen's Guide to Radon  Instructions on testing your home for Radon

​​

​For questions regarding radon professional licensing in Kentucky, please contact the Public Protection Cabinet, Division of Professional Licensing ​at (502) 564-3296.

Testing your home for Radon

Testing for radon is fast and easy. Many low-cost, do-it-yourself radon test kits are available by mail order, or in hardware stores and other retail outlets. An EPA-approved test kit should be used for accuracy. The kits usually are labeled Meets EPA Requirements. There are two general ways to test for radon: year-long testing and short-term testing.

Long-term test kits: The EPA and the Kentucky Radon Program recommend homes be tested for one full calendar year when practical. Long-term kits can be used for tests lasting from 90 days up to a full year. Long-term radon kits can be purchased online from test kit companies.

S​​hort-term kits can be used for tests lasting two to 90 days. A period of two days to one week is most common for short-term testing. It is important to understand that radon levels do change.

Homeowners are advised to consider a long-term test (90 days to 1 year) to help record the average radon level over a longer period.​​

Additional Information

Contact Information

122

Related Agencies