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Radon Levels in Lucas County, Iowa

EPA puts Lucas County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 39.3% of its 84 reported radon tests (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) were at or above 4 pCi/L. Homes with elevated levels occur in all three zones, so only a test measures yours.

Data checked By Radon411Methodology

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    39.3%

    19.2 pts below IA

    Lucas
    39.3%
    Iowa
    58.5%

    84 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    3.3pCi/L

    Below action level

    Lucas
    3.3 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    84

    95th of 99 by tests

    Lucas
    84
    Polk
    10,945

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 1

    Highest potential

    1. Zone 1
    2. 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts over 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Iowa

    92 of 99

    Lowest quarter

    Lucas
    39.3%
    Sioux
    84.2%

    By share, of 99 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Lucas County

Starts at Lucas County's median, 3.3 pCi/L

3.3pCi/L

EPA’s own thresholds; the figures are the area’s, never this home’s.

EPA’s reading of 3.3 pCi/L

Between 2 and 4 pCi/L

  1. Under 20 to 1.9 pCi/L
  2. 2 to 4consider a fix
  3. 4 and aboveEPA says fix it

This result is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends considering a fix when the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Lucas County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Lucas County, At a glance

Lucas County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Lucas County in and predicts an average indoor of greater than 4 pCi/L (greater than 150 Bq/m³) across the county. That is one forecast for the whole county, not a reading of any address in it; homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: High across 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Lucas County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Lucas County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 30%2 to 4 pCi/L: 31%4 pCi/L and above: 39%

Of 84 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Lucas County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L2529.8%
2 to 4 pCi/L2631.0%
4 pCi/L and above3339.3%
What these figures count

These are the 84 tests reported to CDC for Lucas County over 2008 to 2017 (laboratory totals), many from homes being sold or already suspected of a problem: they describe the county's reported tests, not this house.

Measured: CDC tracking data. Figure above: 2008 to 2017, laboratory. Measured data period: 2005 to 2017 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Lucas County, Compared

Lucas County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Lucas County, about 4 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (33 of 84) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 3.6 points higher. Across 99 Iowa counties pooled together, 58.5% of tests reached that level, so Lucas County runs 19.2 points below its state.

Of 7 neighbours with a figure, 4 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 3 a smaller one; the spread is 25.9% (Decatur County) to 67.3% (Marion County). By share, Lucas County is 92nd of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 3.3 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 26.1 pCi/L. Below the action level, 25 tests (29.8%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 21.8% statewide, and 26 tests (31.0%) fell between 2 and 4, against 19.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 39.3% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land high radon potential.

CDC's ten-year totals for Lucas County went from 81 tests (2005 to 2014) to 84 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 43.2% to 39.3%.

Lucas County against Iowa, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Lucas County
Lucas County8439.3%3.3 pCi/LThis county
Iowa, pooled99 counties, pooled95,24558.5%Not pooled+19.2 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−3.6 points
Sioux Countyhighest in the state1,98284.2%10.7 pCi/L+44.9 points
Ringgold Countylowest in the state8728.7%2.6 pCi/L−10.6 points
Marion County, IAborders it1,15167.3%6.0 pCi/L+28.0 points
Warren County, IAborders it1,51366.0%6.3 pCi/L+26.7 points
Clarke County, IAborders it12045.8%3.5 pCi/L+6.5 points
Appanoose County, IAborders it11745.3%3.7 pCi/L+6.0 points
Wayne County, IAborders it4634.8%3.0 pCi/L−4.5 points
Monroe County, IAborders it5933.9%2.9 pCi/L−5.4 points
Decatur County, IAborders it8525.9%2.5 pCi/L−13.4 points
Where Lucas County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Iowa and the United States
ResultLucas County testsLucas County shareIowa shareU.S. shareAgainst Iowa
Under 2 pCi/L2529.8%21.8%39.6%+8.0 points
2 to 4 pCi/L2631.0%19.7%24.7%+11.3 points
4 pCi/L and above3339.3%58.5%35.7%−19.2 points
Lucas County ranked among the 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Scott County87 of 993,52044.3%3.3 pCi/L
Lee County88 of 9935143.6%3.2 pCi/L
Davis County89 of 998542.4%3.1 pCi/L
Johnson County90 of 997,32141.6%3.2 pCi/L
Linn County91 of 999,39539.7%3.0 pCi/L
Lucas County92 of 998439.3%3.3 pCi/L
Wapello County93 of 9928735.9%2.7 pCi/L
Wayne County94 of 994634.8%3.0 pCi/L
Monroe County95 of 995933.9%2.9 pCi/L
Jefferson County96 of 9984133.5%2.6 pCi/L
Van Buren County97 of 995632.1%2.3 pCi/L
Lucas County ten-year laboratory totals, against Iowa's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestIowa, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 20178439.3%3.3 pCi/L26.1 pCi/L58.5%−2.0 points
2007 to 20168041.3%3.3 pCi/L26.1 pCi/L58.6%+0.6 points
2006 to 20158640.7%3.3 pCi/L26.1 pCi/L59.4%−2.5 points
2005 to 20148143.2%3.5 pCi/L26.1 pCi/L59.6%First on file

Pooled shares: Radon411's sum of CDC's county counts for one period.

Lucas County, Geology

The ground under Lucas County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Lucas County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Loess-Covered Drift Plains, to which USGS gives a radon index of 13, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Lucas County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Loess-Covered Drift PlainsPre-Illinoian and Illinoian glacial deposits, and loess.High13100%

Names, descriptions and indexes: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Radon Potential Map (2025). Shares: Radon411, from the map cut to the boundary.

Lucas County beside the ground around it

On high-potential ground Lucas County is close to Iowa as a whole: 100% of its land against 98.8%. Of the 7 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Clarke County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Lucas County, the 7 counties bordering it and Iowa
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Lucas CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Wayne CountyZone 1None22.9%77.1%
Marion CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Warren CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Monroe CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Clarke CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Appanoose CountyZone 1None46.5%53.5%
Decatur CountyZone 1None8.6%91.4%
Iowa99 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone1.2%98.8%

The map rates the ground, not the air in any home.

Local help

Lucas County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Lucas County

What Iowa's program says
Phone
(515) 281-4928
Licensing of radon professionals
Iowa’s radon program approves applications for persons who wish to become certified to perform radon testing or credentialed to perform mitigation and laboratories that provide radon testing devices and analytical services.
Disclosure when a home is sold or rented
However, per Iowa Code chapters 543B.9 and 543B.18 and Iowa Administrative Code 193E Chapter 14 administered by the Iowa Real Estate Commission, a seller must disclose any known tests for the presence of radon and if yes, provide the date of last report and the result(s).

What it means

Lucas County, Questions

Questions about radon in Lucas County

Are radon levels high in Lucas County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 39.3% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Lucas County, Iowa were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.3 pCi/L. Of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 91 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 58.5%.

Which counties border Lucas County?

Lucas County borders 7 counties: Wayne County, Marion County, Warren County, Monroe County, Clarke County, Appanoose County and Decatur County.

Products

Lucas County, Products

Testing a home in Lucas County

In Lucas County, 39.3% of 84 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 58.5% pooled across Iowa. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Lucas County is the one to know: a long-term test (more than 90 days) or a monitor, with a short-term kit for a first answer.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Lucas County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest predicted radon potential. Best radon monitors for Zone 1 counties like Lucas County

Explore

Lucas County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Lucas County

Calculated by Radon411

Lucas County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Lucas County

The Census Bureau estimates 8,847 residents in Lucas County for July 1, 2025, 226 more than in 2020 (+2.6%). That works out to 21 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Chariton, has 4,347 residents, 49.1% of the total. Together its 5 incorporated places hold 59.0% of those residents; the other 41.0% live outside any of them. Reported testing is thin here: 84 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 9.5 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where Iowa as a whole comes to 29.4.

From Chariton to Derby, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Lucas County's.

The cities and towns in Lucas County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Chariton4,347+3.9%49.1%
Russell477+1.1%5.4%
Lucas177+1.7%2.0%
Williamson128+8.5%1.4%
Derby90+1.1%1.0%

5 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025).

Lucas County, Homes

Homes in Lucas County

Lucas County is a place of houses on their own lots: 84% of its 4,077 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Iowa. Half of its homes were built before 1964, close to Iowa's 1971: 46% date from before 1960 and 12% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 81% of the occupied homes (Iowa: 72%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Lucas County, Iowa, 2019 to 2023
HomesLucas CountyIowa
Housing units4,0771,427,175
Detached houses84%72%
In buildings of 5 or more9%14%
Mobile homes5%3%
Built before 196046%39%
Built since 200012%21%
Middle year built19641971
Owner-occupied81%72%

Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023: estimates from a sample of homes, looser for a small place. Shares by Radon411.