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Radon Levels in Van Buren County, Iowa

EPA puts Van Buren County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 32.1% of its 56 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

    32.1%

    26.4 pts below IA

    Van Buren
    32.1%
    Iowa
    58.5%

    56 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.3pCi/L

    Below action level

    Van Buren
    2.3 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    56

    98th of 99 by tests

    Van Buren
    56
    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

    97 of 99

    Lowest quarter

    Van Buren
    32.1%
    Sioux
    84.2%

    By share, of 99 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Van Buren County

Starts at Van Buren County's median, 2.3 pCi/L

2.3pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.3 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. Van Buren County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Van Buren County, At a glance

Van Buren County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Van Buren 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 91% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Van Buren County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Van Buren County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 45%2 to 4 pCi/L: 23%4 pCi/L and above: 32%

Of 56 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Van Buren County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L2544.6%
2 to 4 pCi/L1323.2%
4 pCi/L and above1832.1%
What these figures count

These are the 56 tests reported to CDC for Van Buren 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

Van Buren County, Compared

Van Buren County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Van Buren County, about 3 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (18 of 56) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 3.6 points lower. Across 99 Iowa counties pooled together, 58.5% of tests reached that level, so Van Buren County runs 26.4 points below its state.

Of 5 neighbours with a figure, all 5 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L; the spread is 33.5% (Jefferson County) to 46.4% (Henry County). By share, Van Buren County is 97th of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 2.3 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 19.8 pCi/L. Below the action level, 25 tests (44.6%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 21.8% statewide, and 13 tests (23.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 19.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 32.1% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 91% of the county's land high radon potential.

CDC's ten-year totals for Van Buren County went from 39 tests (2005 to 2014) to 56 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 28.2% to 32.1%.

Van Buren County against Iowa, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Van Buren County
Van Buren County5632.1%2.3 pCi/LThis county
Iowa, pooled99 counties, pooled95,24558.5%Not pooled+26.4 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+52.1 points
Decatur Countylowest in the state8525.9%2.5 pCi/L−6.2 points
Henry County, IAborders it16846.4%3.4 pCi/L+14.3 points
Lee County, IAborders it35143.6%3.2 pCi/L+11.5 points
Davis County, IAborders it8542.4%3.1 pCi/L+10.3 points
Wapello County, IAborders it28735.9%2.7 pCi/L+3.8 points
Jefferson County, IAborders it84133.5%2.6 pCi/L+1.4 points
Clark County, MOborders it1729.4%2.2 pCi/L−2.7 points
Scotland County, MOborders it1816.7%1.4 pCi/L−15.4 points
Where Van Buren County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Iowa and the United States
ResultVan Buren County testsVan Buren County shareIowa shareU.S. shareAgainst Iowa
Under 2 pCi/L2544.6%21.8%39.6%+22.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L1323.2%19.7%24.7%+3.5 points
4 pCi/L and above1832.1%58.5%35.7%−26.4 points
Van Buren 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
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
Ringgold County98 of 998728.7%2.6 pCi/L
Decatur County99 of 998525.9%2.5 pCi/L
Van Buren County ten-year laboratory totals, against Iowa's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestIowa, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 20175632.1%2.3 pCi/L19.8 pCi/L58.5%−0.6 points
2007 to 20165232.7%2.3 pCi/L19.8 pCi/L58.6%−2.1 points
2006 to 20154634.8%2.3 pCi/L19.8 pCi/L59.4%+6.6 points
2005 to 20143928.2%2.1 pCi/L19.8 pCi/L59.6%First on file

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

Van Buren County, Geology

The ground under Van Buren County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Van Buren County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 91.2% of its land is high radon potential, with 8.8% moderate. The map puts 91.2% of Van Buren County in the area it calls Loess-Covered Drift Plains and 8.8% in Dissected Till Plains. USGS gives the first a radon index of 13, in the high band (12 to 17), and the second 11, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Van Buren County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Loess-Covered Drift PlainsPre-Illinoian and Illinoian glacial deposits, and loess.High1391.2%
Dissected Till PlainsTill-covered Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale, and limestone.Moderate118.8%

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

Van Buren County beside the ground around it

On high-potential ground Van Buren County is close to Iowa as a whole: 91.2% of its land against 98.8%. Of the 7 counties that border it, 4 have more high-potential ground, Henry County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Van Buren County, the 7 counties bordering it and Iowa
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Van Buren CountyZone 1None8.8%91.2%
Scotland County, MOZone 2None100%None
Jefferson CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Clark County, MOZone 2None93.4%6.6%
Lee CountyZone 1None0.1%99.9%
Davis CountyZone 1None42.9%57.1%
Henry CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Wapello CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Iowa99 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone1.2%98.8%

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

Local help

Van Buren County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Van Buren 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

Van Buren County, Questions

Questions about radon in Van Buren County

Are radon levels high in Van Buren County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 32.1% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Van Buren County, Iowa were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.3 pCi/L. Of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 96 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 58.5%.

Which counties border Van Buren County?

Van Buren County borders 7 counties: Scotland County, MO, Jefferson County, IA, Clark County, MO, Lee County, IA, Davis County, IA, Henry County, IA and Wapello County, IA.

Products

Van Buren County, Products

Testing a home in Van Buren County

In Van Buren County, 32.1% of 56 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 Van Buren 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

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

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Van Buren County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Van Buren County

Calculated by Radon411

Van Buren County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Van Buren County

About 7,131 people live in Van Buren County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 90 fewer than in 2020 (−1.2%). That works out to 15 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Keosauqua, the largest, has 938 residents, 13.2% of the total. Together its 7 incorporated places hold 43.6% of those residents; the other 56.4% live outside any of them. Reported testing is thin here: 56 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 7.9 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where Iowa as a whole comes to 29.4.

From Keosauqua to Cantril, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Van Buren County's.

The cities and towns in Van Buren County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Keosauqua938+0.2%13.2%
Farmington575−1.7%8.1%
Milton387−1.3%5.4%
Birmingham368−1.1%5.2%
Bonaparte354−1.7%5.0%
Stockport267−2.2%3.7%
Cantril221−0.9%3.1%

7 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).

Van Buren County, Homes

Homes in Van Buren County

Van Buren County is a place of houses on their own lots: 84% of its 3,506 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Iowa. Half of its homes were built before 1971, close to Iowa's 1971: 40% date from before 1960 and 14% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 83% of the occupied homes (Iowa: 72%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Van Buren County, Iowa, 2019 to 2023
HomesVan Buren CountyIowa
Housing units3,5061,427,175
Detached houses84%72%
In buildings of 5 or more1%14%
Mobile homes9%3%
Built before 196040%39%
Built since 200014%21%
Middle year built19711971
Owner-occupied83%72%

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