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Radon Levels in Kanawha County, West Virginia

EPA puts Kanawha County in Zone 3, its lowest radon zone, and 20.6% of its 247 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

    20.6%

    16.9 pts below WV

    Kanawha
    20.6%
    WV
    37.5%

    247 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.2pCi/L

    Below action level

    Kanawha
    2.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    247

    8th of 27 by tests

    Kanawha
    247
    Berkeley
    2,888

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 3

    Lower potential

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. Zone 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts under 2 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in WV

    22 of 27

    Lowest quarter

    Kanawha
    20.6%
    Morgan
    58.1%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Kanawha County

Starts at Kanawha County's median, 2.2 pCi/L

2.2pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.2 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. Kanawha County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Kanawha County, At a glance

Kanawha County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 3: lower predicted potential

is EPA's lowest class, and its forecast for Kanawha County as a whole is an average indoor of less than 2 pCi/L (less than 75 Bq/m³). A low zone clears no address in it: homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: Moderate across 71% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Kanawha County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 42%2 to 4 pCi/L: 37%4 pCi/L and above: 21%

Of 247 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Kanawha County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L10442.1%
2 to 4 pCi/L9237.2%
4 pCi/L and above5120.6%
What these figures count

These are the 247 tests reported to CDC for Kanawha 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

Kanawha County, Compared

Kanawha County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Kanawha County's 247 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 2.2 pCi/L and a maximum of 74.8 pCi/L, and 20.6% reached 4 pCi/L. West Virginia as a whole (55 West Virginia counties, pooled) comes to 37.5%: 16.9 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 22nd of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Morgan County reported the highest share (58.1%) and Grant County the lowest (9.8%).

Below the action level, 104 tests (42.1%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 37.7% statewide, and 92 tests (37.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.7% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Kanawha County went from 224 tests (2005 to 2014) to 247 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 22.8% to 20.6%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Kanawha County in Zone 3, a predicted county average under 2 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 71% of the county's land moderate radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 16.7% in Raleigh County to 23.1% in Putnam County, with Raleigh County below Kanawha County.

CDC also counts 8 tests taken after mitigation in Kanawha County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Kanawha County against West Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Kanawha County
Kanawha County24720.6%2.2 pCi/LThis county
West Virginia, pooled55 counties, pooled10,06137.5%Not pooled+16.9 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+15.1 points
Morgan Countyhighest in the state24158.1%5.8 pCi/L+37.5 points
Grant Countylowest in the state1649.8%1.1 pCi/L−10.8 points
Roane County, WVborders it2236.4%2.3 pCi/L+15.8 points
Nicholas County, WVborders it1330.8%2.6 pCi/L+10.2 points
Jackson County, WVborders it2425.0%2.5 pCi/L+4.4 points
Putnam County, WVborders it5223.1%1.5 pCi/L+2.5 points
Lincoln County, WVborders it1118.2%1.9 pCi/L−2.4 points
Raleigh County, WVborders it4216.7%1.4 pCi/L−3.9 points
Boone County, WVborders it714.3%0.1 pCi/L−6.3 points
Clay County, WVborders it10.0%0.1 pCi/L−20.6 points
Fayette County, WVborders it200.0%0.8 pCi/L−20.6 points
Where Kanawha County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside West Virginia and the United States
ResultKanawha County testsKanawha County shareWest Virginia shareU.S. shareAgainst West Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L10442.1%37.7%39.6%+4.4 points
2 to 4 pCi/L9237.2%24.7%24.7%+12.5 points
4 pCi/L and above5120.6%37.5%35.7%−16.9 points
Kanawha County ranked among the 27 West 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
Marion County17 of 2724429.1%2.6 pCi/L
Taylor County18 of 273228.1%2.2 pCi/L
Putnam County19 of 275223.1%1.5 pCi/L
Tyler County20 of 273522.9%1.8 pCi/L
Hardy County21 of 275322.6%1.6 pCi/L
Kanawha County22 of 2724720.6%2.2 pCi/L
Monongalia County23 of 271,17619.0%1.9 pCi/L
Raleigh County24 of 274216.7%1.4 pCi/L
Cabell County25 of 2714516.6%2.0 pCi/L
Wood County26 of 2790515.9%1.8 pCi/L
Grant County27 of 271649.8%1.1 pCi/L
Kanawha County ten-year laboratory totals, against West Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestWest Virginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201724720.6%2.2 pCi/L74.8 pCi/L37.5%−0.2 points
2007 to 201625020.8%2.2 pCi/L74.8 pCi/L37.3%−0.8 points
2006 to 201523221.6%2.2 pCi/L74.8 pCi/L37.7%−1.2 points
2005 to 201422422.8%2.1 pCi/L74.8 pCi/L37.3%First on file

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

Kanawha County, Geology

The ground under Kanawha County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Kanawha County: 70.6% of its land is moderate radon potential and 29.4% low. The map puts 70.6% of Kanawha County in the area it calls Central Allegheny Plateau and 29.4% in Cumberland Plateau. USGS gives the first a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11), and the second 8, in the low band (5 to 8).

USGS's geologic areas under Kanawha County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Central Allegheny PlateauPermian and Pennsylvanian shale, siltstone, sandstone, minor limestone.Moderate1070.6%
Cumberland PlateauPennsylvanian sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coalLow829.4%

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

Kanawha County beside the ground around it

Across West Virginia 18.7% of the land is rated high; none of Kanawha County's is. Of the 9 counties that border it, 6 have more moderate-potential ground, Putnam County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Kanawha County, the 9 counties bordering it and West Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Kanawha CountyZone 329.4%70.6%None
Boone CountyZone 398.2%1.8%None
Putnam CountyZone 2None100%None
Clay CountyZone 21.7%98.3%None
Fayette CountyZone 232.5%67.5%None
Roane CountyZone 2None100%None
Lincoln CountyZone 210.0%90.0%None
Nicholas CountyZone 210.3%89.7%None
Jackson CountyZone 2None100%None
Raleigh CountyZone 243.4%56.6%None
West Virginia55 counties, pooled by land areaVaries14.0%67.3%18.7%

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

Local help

Kanawha County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Kanawha County

What West Virginia's program says
Phone
304-352-5039
Email
Radon@wv.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
Complete listings of professionals licensed to perform Asbestos, Lead, Radon and Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation activities in West Virginia.

What it means

Kanawha County, Questions

Questions about radon in Kanawha County

Are radon levels high in Kanawha County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 20.6% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Kanawha County, West Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.2 pCi/L. Of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 21 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 37.5%.

Which counties border Kanawha County?

Kanawha County borders 9 counties: Boone County, Putnam County, Clay County, Fayette County, Roane County, Lincoln County, Nicholas County, Jackson County and Raleigh County.

Products

Kanawha County, Products

Testing a home in Kanawha County

In Kanawha County, 20.6% of 247 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 37.5% pooled across West Virginia. Zone 3 is the lowest label, yet homes at or above 4 pCi/L occur in every zone: a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Kanawha County.

Test kits and monitors3

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Best radon monitors for Kanawha County homes, compared

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Kanawha County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Kanawha County

Calculated by Radon411

Kanawha County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Kanawha County

About 172,381 people live in Kanawha County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 7,834 fewer than in 2020 (−4.3%). That works out to 191 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Charleston, has 46,117 residents, 26.8% of the total. Reported testing is thin here: 247 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 1.4 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where West Virginia as a whole comes to 5.7.

From Charleston to Handley, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Kanawha County's.

The 12 largest cities and towns in Kanawha County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Charleston46,117−5.2%26.8%
South Charleston13,072−5.5%7.6%
St. Albans10,210−5.6%5.9%
Dunbar7,050−5.5%4.1%
Nitroextends beyond Kanawha County6,270−4.8%Counted whole
Marmet1,416−5.1%0.8%
Chesapeake1,270−4.8%0.7%
Montgomeryextends beyond Kanawha County1,186−5.9%Counted whole
Belle1,088−5.8%0.6%
Clendenin859+0.6%0.5%
East Bank772−5.0%0.4%
Smithersextends beyond Kanawha County694−7.0%Counted whole
  • Cedar Grove
  • Glasgow
  • Pratt
  • Handley

16 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. “(part)” marks a place that extends into another county. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025). A place that extends beyond Kanawha County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Kanawha County, Homes

Homes in Kanawha County

Of Kanawha County's 90,388 homes, 69% are detached houses, against 71% across West Virginia; 11% are in buildings of five or more homes. The homes are older than West Virginia's as a whole: half were built before 1966 (1976 for West Virginia), and 43% date from before 1960. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (West Virginia: 74%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesKanawha CountyWest Virginia
Housing units90,388859,653
Detached houses69%71%
In buildings of 5 or more11%8%
Mobile homes10%14%
Built before 196043%33%
Built since 200011%18%
Middle year built19661976
Owner-occupied70%74%

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