Radon in O'Brien County, Iowa
O'Brien County, Iowa, is in EPA radon Zone 1: predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (highest potential). Radon laboratories reported 382 building tests here for 2008 to 2017: median 8.9 pCi/L, with 81.7% at or above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level (Iowa 57.1%, US 36.5%).
Radon test results in O'Brien County
| Test results | Period | Tests | Typical result | 4 pCi/L or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon testing laboratories | 2008-2017 | 382 | median 8.9 pCi/L | 81.7% |
| Iowa, all counties (labs) | 2008-2017 | 68,663 | n/a | 57.1% |
| United States (labs) | 2008-2017 | 1,408,802 | n/a | 36.5% |
Test results describe buildings whose owners chose to test and whose results reached the lab or agency, not a random sample; small counts swing widely. State and US shares are computed from county counts and percents. The laboratory data comes from national radon testing laboratories and supplements EPA's zone map.
Radon in nearby counties
| County | EPA zone | Lab tests | 4 pCi/L or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola County, IA | Zone 1 | 85 | 67.2% |
| Cherokee County, IA | Zone 1 | 428 | 74.5% |
| Clay County, IA | Zone 1 | 464 | 79.4% |
| Sioux County, IA | Zone 1 | 1,124 | 84.2% |
| Dickinson County, IA | Zone 1 | 516 | 70.3% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | Zone 1 | 392 | 72.1% |
The six counties with the nearest centers.
What to do about radon in O'Brien County
Test the building. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L, and says there is no known safe level of exposure. Iowa's state radon program can point you to testers and test kits.
Buying here? The Environmental Records Report lists this county's radon zone and test results with the flood zone, mapped faults, power lines and federal contamination records near the address.
Radon in O'Brien County: questions
What is the radon level in O'Brien County?
The median of the 382 laboratory tests reported for O'Brien County (2008 to 2017) was 8.9 pCi/L, and 81.7% of them were at or above 4 pCi/L. These are results of tested buildings; a single home can be far above or below them.
Is O'Brien County in radon Zone 1?
Yes. EPA's 1993 Map of Radon Zones puts O'Brien County in Zone 1, the counties with a predicted average indoor radon screening level above 4 pCi/L.
How does radon in O'Brien County compare with Iowa?
81.7% of laboratory tests in O'Brien County were at or above 4 pCi/L for 2008 to 2017, against 57.1% across Iowa (68,663 tests) and 36.5% nationally. 99 of Iowa's 99 counties are in Zone 1.
Should I test for radon in O'Brien County?
Yes. EPA recommends testing every home whatever its zone: "This map should not be used to determine if individual homes need to be tested." Fix the home at 4 pCi/L or more and consider a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L; EPA says there is no known safe level of radon exposure.
More for O'Brien County
- O'Brien loan limitsThis year's FHFA conforming, FHA and VA county loan limits for 1 to 4 unit homes, from FHFA's and HUD's official files.
- O'Brien fair market rentHUD Fair Market Rents for studios to 4 bedrooms, the voucher payment standard range and the change from last year.
- O'Brien property tax rateEffective property tax rate from Census survey data: median taxes paid against median home value, ranked in the state.
- Environmental records reportSuperfund, hazardous waste, leaking tank and brownfield sites near any O'Brien address, with distances and a site map. A records search, not a Phase I.
- Superfund sites in IowaEvery EPA Superfund site in Iowa with its status, county and a map, refreshed nightly from federal records.
- USDA eligibility map: IowaHow much of each Iowa county is in a USDA-eligible rural area, the towns mapped ineligible, and a free address check.
- Opportunity zones in IowaEvery designated Opportunity Zone tract in Iowa by county, from the IRS list, and the tracts eligible for the 2027 round.
- Census tract lookupThe census tract of any O'Brien address with its FFIEC income level and HUD Qualified Census Tract and DDA status.
Other free hazard lookups
- Fault lines near an addressUSGS-mapped earthquake faults within 5 miles, their age and slip rate, and the USGS seismic hazard value.
- Power lines near an addressHigh-voltage transmission lines within 1 mile from federal maps, with voltage and distance.
- Flood zone lookupThe FEMA flood zone mapped at any US address. Not an official flood zone determination.
- Superfund sites near an addressThe nearest EPA Superfund (NPL) sites and their status.
All of these, plus wetlands, FEMA hazard ratings and the federal contamination lists, are in the Environmental Records Report for any US address ($29).
Radon in every Iowa county · Radon map of every state
Data compiled 2026-10-20. County FIPS 19141. County-level screening information, not a radon measurement of any building.