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Radon Levels in Ohio County, West Virginia

EPA puts Ohio County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 40.3% of the 853 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

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    40.3%

    2.8 pts above WV

    Ohio
    40.3%
    WV
    37.5%

    853 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    3.2pCi/L

    Below action level

    Ohio
    3.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    853

    5th of 27 by tests

    Ohio
    853
    Berkeley
    2,888

    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 WV

    8 of 27

    Middle half

    Ohio
    40.3%
    Morgan
    58.1%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Ohio County

Starts at Ohio County's median, 3.2 pCi/L

3.2pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 3.2 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. Ohio County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Ohio County, At a glance

Ohio County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Ohio 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: Moderate across 70% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Ohio County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 27%2 to 4 pCi/L: 33%4 pCi/L and above: 40%

Of 853 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Ohio County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L22726.6%
2 to 4 pCi/L28233.1%
4 pCi/L and above34440.3%
What these figures count

These are the 853 tests reported to CDC for Ohio 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

Ohio County, Compared

Ohio County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Ohio County, about 4 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (344 of 853) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 4.6 points higher. Across 55 West Virginia counties pooled together, 37.5% of tests reached that level, so Ohio County runs 2.8 points above its state.

Of 5 neighbours with a figure, 3 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 2 a smaller one; the spread is 31.9% (Marshall County) to 49.8% (Jefferson County, OH). By share, Ohio County is 8th of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 3.2 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 88.4 pCi/L. Below the action level, 227 tests (26.6%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 37.7% statewide, and 282 tests (33.1%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 40.3% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 70% of the county's land moderate radon potential. CDC also counts 104 tests taken after mitigation in Ohio County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Ohio County went from 686 tests (2005 to 2014) to 853 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 43.1% to 40.3%.

Ohio County against West Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Ohio County
Ohio County85340.3%3.2 pCi/LThis county
West Virginia, pooled55 counties, pooled10,06137.5%Not pooled−2.8 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−4.6 points
Morgan Countyhighest in the state24158.1%5.8 pCi/L+17.8 points
Grant Countylowest in the state1649.8%1.1 pCi/L−30.5 points
Jefferson County, OHborders it27149.8%3.9 pCi/L+9.5 points
Belmont County, OHborders it69745.2%3.6 pCi/L+4.9 points
Brooke County, WVborders it15743.9%3.4 pCi/L+3.6 points
Washington County, PAborders it2,68237.9%3.0 pCi/L−2.4 points
Marshall County, WVborders it25431.9%2.5 pCi/L−8.4 points
Where Ohio County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside West Virginia and the United States
ResultOhio County testsOhio County shareWest Virginia shareU.S. shareAgainst West Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L22726.6%37.7%39.6%−11.1 points
2 to 4 pCi/L28233.1%24.7%24.7%+8.4 points
4 pCi/L and above34440.3%37.5%35.7%+2.8 points
Ohio 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
Greenbrier County3 of 2717652.3%4.5 pCi/L
Berkeley County4 of 272,88850.7%4.0 pCi/L
Hancock County5 of 2732649.1%3.9 pCi/L
Brooke County6 of 2715743.9%3.4 pCi/L
Mineral County7 of 2710742.1%2.8 pCi/L
Ohio County8 of 2785340.3%3.2 pCi/L
Hampshire County9 of 279038.9%2.8 pCi/L
Preston County10 of 2717636.9%2.5 pCi/L
Harrison County11 of 2718736.4%2.6 pCi/L
Randolph County11 of 273336.4%2.5 pCi/L
Wetzel County13 of 275435.2%2.7 pCi/L
Ohio 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 201785340.3%3.2 pCi/L88.4 pCi/L37.5%−1.4 points
2007 to 201683441.7%3.3 pCi/L88.4 pCi/L37.3%−0.8 points
2006 to 201575042.5%3.3 pCi/L88.4 pCi/L37.7%−0.6 points
2005 to 201468643.1%3.4 pCi/L88.4 pCi/L37.3%First on file

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

Ohio County, Geology

The ground under Ohio County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Ohio County: 69.7% of its land is moderate radon potential and 30.3% high. The map puts 69.7% of Ohio County in the area it calls Central Allegheny Plateau and 29.9% in Pennsylvanian Rocks of the Pittsburgh Low Plateau. USGS gives the first a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11), and the second 14, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Ohio County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Central Allegheny PlateauPermian and Pennsylvanian shale, siltstone, sandstone, minor limestone.Moderate1069.7%
Pennsylvanian Rocks of the Pittsburgh Low PlateauPennsylvanian marine shale, siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and coal.High1429.9%

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

Ohio County beside the ground around it

Ohio County has more high-potential ground than West Virginia as a whole: 30.3% of its land against 18.7%. Of the 5 counties that border it, 4 have more high-potential ground, Jefferson County, OH the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Ohio County, the 5 counties bordering it and West Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Ohio CountyZone 1None69.7%30.3%
Brooke CountyZone 1None10.2%89.8%
Marshall CountyZone 1None96.8%3.2%
Belmont County, OHZone 1None30.9%69.1%
Jefferson County, OHZone 1NoneNone100%
Washington County, PAZone 2None58.8%41.2%
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

Ohio County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Ohio County

Listed radon businesses with an address in Ohio County:

Listed radon professionals by town: Wheeling

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

Ohio County, Questions

Questions about radon in Ohio County

Are radon levels high in Ohio County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 40.3% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Ohio County, West Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.2 pCi/L. Of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 7 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 37.5%.

Which counties border Ohio County?

Ohio County borders 5 counties: Brooke County, WV, Marshall County, WV, Belmont County, OH, Jefferson County, OH and Washington County, PA.

Products

Ohio County, Products

Testing a home in Ohio County

In Ohio County, 40.3% of 853 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 37.5% pooled across West Virginia. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Ohio 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

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

Explore

Ohio County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Ohio County

Calculated by Radon411

Ohio County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Ohio County

About 40,496 people live in Ohio County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 1,851 fewer than in 2020 (−4.4%). That works out to 383 people per square mile of land. Wheeling, the largest place on its list (25,680 residents in all), extends beyond Ohio County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 853 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 21.1 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 5.7 for West Virginia.

From Wheeling to Valley Grove, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Ohio County's.

The cities and towns in Ohio County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Wheelingextends beyond Ohio County25,680−4.7%Counted whole
Bethlehem2,520−3.6%6.2%
West Liberty1,429−1.4%3.5%
Triadelphia651−4.8%1.6%
Clearview450−5.9%1.1%
Valley Grove269−4.9%0.7%

6 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). A place that extends beyond Ohio County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Ohio County, Homes

Homes in Ohio County

Of Ohio County's 21,179 homes, 66% are detached houses, against 71% across West Virginia; 14% are in buildings of five or more homes. The homes are older than West Virginia's as a whole: half were built before 1957 (1976 for West Virginia), and 54% date from before 1960. 67% 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 Ohio County, West Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesOhio CountyWest Virginia
Housing units21,179859,653
Detached houses66%71%
In buildings of 5 or more14%8%
Mobile homes3%14%
Built before 196054%33%
Built since 200011%18%
Middle year built19571976
Owner-occupied67%74%

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