National Radon Action Month 2027

What is National Radon Action Month?

National Radon Action Month is an annual campaign led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise awareness of radon and encourage testing. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps up from soil and rock. You cannot see, smell or taste it, and it can build up in enclosed spaces, especially those below ground level.

According to the EPA, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking, and the leading cause among people who have never smoked.

Why it matters for workplaces

Most radon awareness focuses on homes, but workers can be exposed too. Basements, underground utility vaults, tunnels, mines, crawl spaces and poorly ventilated ground-floor rooms can all hold elevated levels. Radon is a form of ionizing radiation, and managing it belongs in a broader industrial hygiene program.

Ways to take part

1. Test below-grade work areas. Use short-term test kits or hire a certified radon professional to measure basements, vaults and other enclosed spaces.
2. Act on the results. Where levels are high, improve ventilation or have a qualified contractor install a mitigation system.
3. Add radon to your hazard review. Note which spaces were tested, when, and what was found.
4. Share home testing information. Point employees to EPA guidance and low-cost test kits for their own homes.
5. Plan follow-up testing. Retest after building changes or mitigation work.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Radon Action Month

When is National Radon Action Month?

It runs for the whole month of January every year.

Does OSHA regulate radon?

OSHA's ionizing radiation standard can apply to radon exposure in some workplaces, and mines are covered by MSHA rules. Check which rules apply to your operations and get professional advice where levels are elevated.