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Radon Levels in Giles County, Virginia

EPA puts Giles County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 56.9% of the 174 radon tests reported to CDC (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) came back 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

    56.9%

    26.5 pts above VA

    Giles
    56.9%
    Virginia
    30.4%

    174 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    4.8pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Giles
    4.8 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    174

    47th of 84 by tests

    Giles
    174
    Fairfax
    8,657

    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 Virginia

    6 of 84

    Top quarter

    Giles
    56.9%
    Russell
    67.3%

    By share, of 84 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Giles County

Starts at Giles County's median, 4.8 pCi/L

4.8pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 4.8 pCi/L

At or above 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 at or above 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. Giles County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Giles County, At a glance

Giles County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Giles 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 Giles County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Giles County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 22%2 to 4 pCi/L: 21%4 pCi/L and above: 57%

Of 174 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Giles County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L3922.4%
2 to 4 pCi/L3620.7%
4 pCi/L and above9956.9%
What these figures count

These are the 174 tests reported to CDC for Giles 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

Giles County, Compared

Giles County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 56.9% of the 174 radon tests reported to CDC for Giles County over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 6th of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 26.5 points above the 30.4% pooled from 131 Virginia counties.

The median result, 4.8 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 102.8 pCi/L. The rest split 22.4% under 2 pCi/L and 20.7% from 2 to 4 (Virginia: 44.7% and 24.9%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 56.9% share point the same way here.

No bordering county with a figure for the same period reported a higher share; the closest is Pulaski County at 49.6%, the lowest Mercer County, WV at 33.7%. Statewide for the same period, Russell County reported the highest share (67.3%) and Norfolk city the lowest (2.7%).

CDC's ten-year totals for Giles County went from 142 tests (2005 to 2014) to 174 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 59.2% to 56.9%.

Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.7%; Giles County sits 21.2 points above it. CDC also counts 13 tests taken after mitigation in Giles County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Giles County against Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Giles County
Giles County17456.9%4.8 pCi/LThis county
Virginia, pooled131 counties, pooled53,19930.4%Not pooled−26.5 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−21.2 points
Russell Countyhighest in the state4967.3%6.7 pCi/L+10.4 points
Norfolk citylowest in the state732.7%0.5 pCi/L−54.2 points
Pulaski County, VAborders it26849.6%3.9 pCi/L−7.3 points
Bland County, VAborders it1346.2%2.6 pCi/L−10.7 points
Craig County, VAborders it1346.2%2.8 pCi/L−10.7 points
Montgomery County, VAborders it97035.5%2.5 pCi/L−21.4 points
Mercer County, WVborders it10133.7%2.1 pCi/L−23.2 points
Monroe County, WVborders it1833.3%3.6 pCi/L−23.6 points
Summers County, WVborders it1513.3%1.5 pCi/L−43.6 points
Where Giles County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Virginia and the United States
ResultGiles County testsGiles County shareVirginia shareU.S. shareAgainst Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L3922.4%44.7%39.6%−22.3 points
2 to 4 pCi/L3620.7%24.9%24.7%−4.2 points
4 pCi/L and above9956.9%30.4%35.7%+26.5 points
Giles County ranked among the 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Russell County1 of 844967.3%6.7 pCi/L
Wythe County2 of 8411965.5%6.0 pCi/L
Carroll County3 of 848961.8%5.0 pCi/L
Smyth County4 of 8412361.0%5.5 pCi/L
Washington County5 of 8438458.1%4.8 pCi/L
Giles County6 of 8417456.9%4.8 pCi/L
Patrick County7 of 845354.7%5.3 pCi/L
Staunton city8 of 8433852.7%4.2 pCi/L
Bristol city9 of 8411050.9%4.2 pCi/L
Rockbridge County10 of 8411450.9%4.0 pCi/L
Scott County11 of 847550.7%4.0 pCi/L
Giles County ten-year laboratory totals, against Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestVirginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201717456.9%4.8 pCi/L102.8 pCi/L30.4%+0.3 points
2007 to 201615956.6%4.8 pCi/L102.8 pCi/L30.6%−1.9 points
2006 to 201514758.5%4.8 pCi/L102.8 pCi/L30.7%−0.7 points
2005 to 201414259.2%4.9 pCi/L102.8 pCi/L30.3%First on file

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

Giles County, Geology

The ground under Giles County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Giles County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Valley and Ridge, to which USGS gives a radon index of 15, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Giles County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Valley and RidgeCambrian dolomite, limestone, shale, and sandstone, Silurian-Ordovician limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone, Mississippian-Devonian sandstone, shale, limestone, gypsum, and coal.High1599.8%

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

Giles County beside the ground around it

Giles County has more high-potential ground than Virginia as a whole: 100% of its land against 47.9%. Of the 7 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Bland County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Giles County, the 7 counties bordering it and Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Giles CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Pulaski CountyZone 1None2.5%97.5%
Monroe County, WVZone 1None54.8%45.2%
Montgomery CountyZone 1None13.0%87.0%
Mercer County, WVZone 111.4%72.6%16.0%
Summers County, WVZone 1None100%None
Bland CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Craig CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Virginia133 counties, pooled by land areaVaries20.6%30.0%47.9%

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

Local help

Giles County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Giles County

What Virginia's program says
Phone
(804) 864-8161
Email
Radon@vdh.virginia.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
The Code of Virginia requires that Radon testers and mitigators be currently certified by either the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).

What it means

Giles County, Questions

Questions about radon in Giles County

Are radon levels high in Giles County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 56.9% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Giles County, Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 4.8 pCi/L. Of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 5 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.4%.

Which counties border Giles County?

Giles County borders 7 counties: Pulaski County, VA, Monroe County, WV, Montgomery County, VA, Mercer County, WV, Summers County, WV, Bland County, VA and Craig County, VA.

Products

Giles County, Products

Testing a home in Giles County

In Giles County, 56.9% of 174 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.4% pooled across Virginia. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Giles 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

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

Explore

Giles County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Giles County

Calculated by Radon411

Giles County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Giles County

About 16,564 people live in Giles County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 222 fewer than in 2020 (−1.3%). That works out to 46 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Pearisburg, the largest, has 2,873 residents, 17.3% of the total. Together its 5 incorporated places hold 41.5% of those residents; the other 58.5% live outside any of them. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 174 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 10.5 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 6.0 for Virginia.

From Pearisburg to Glen Lyn, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Giles County's.

The cities and towns in Giles County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Pearisburg2,873−1.5%17.3%
Narrows2,036−2.5%12.3%
Pembroke1,139−0.9%6.9%
Rich Creek738−1.2%4.5%
Glen Lyn92−3.2%0.6%

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).

Giles County, Homes

Homes in Giles County

Of Giles County's 8,316 homes, 73% are detached houses, against 61% across Virginia; 19% are mobile homes. The homes are older than Virginia's as a whole: half were built before 1971 (1984 for Virginia), and 40% date from before 1960. Owners live in 79% of the occupied homes (Virginia: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Giles County, Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesGiles CountyVirginia
Housing units8,3163,654,784
Detached houses73%61%
In buildings of 5 or more4%19%
Mobile homes19%4%
Built before 196040%19%
Built since 200014%25%
Middle year built19711984
Owner-occupied79%67%

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