Radon levels in East Lansing, Michigan

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.3 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 4 modeled ZIP codes in East Lansing - about 29% below the US average of 1.8, about 20% below the Michigan average of 1.6. Ranked #18 of 27 Michigan cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Ingham County (its ZIPs also reach into 1 other county).

Test East Lansing, MI once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.3 pCi/L, below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold. That's good news for the area - but the EPA still recommends every home be tested, because foundation cracks, soil pockets and ventilation make one house very different from its neighbor. One inexpensive kit settles it.

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Predicted (model estimate). The pCi/L figures on this page are long-term area averages from a peer-reviewed national model built on millions of real radon tests (2001-2021). They describe the typical home in this area - not your home, which can be several times higher or lower. The EPA radon zone is a separate, 1993 county-level classification. How the numbers work.

1.3 ± 0.10

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

1.0 ± 0.07

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.3-2.0

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

0%

of East Lansing ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (25% ≥ 2)

What this means for East Lansing

The typical East Lansing home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.3 to 2.0 pCi/L.

The city figure is not a separate estimate: it is the mean of the model's ZIP-code predictions, weighted by the share of the city's land in each ZIP (Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). Note that the EPA classifies Ingham County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.3 pCi/L for East Lansing; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.

Comparable Michigan cities: Dearborn Heights (1.3), Grand Rapids (1.3), Southfield (1.3), Dearborn (1.2).

ZIP codes in East Lansing

ZIPs that overlap the city, largest share of its land first. Predicted basement and upstairs means are model estimates; ZIPs the model does not cover show a dash.

ZIPShare of cityBasementUpstairsGrade
4882378%1.3 ± 0.101.0Low
488249%no model
488255%no model
488083%2.0 ± 0.071.2Moderate
489103%1.5 ± 0.091.0Low
489121%1.6 ± 0.061.1Low

Testing help in Michigan

Michigan's radon program page is at www.michigan.gov; it lists testing and certified-mitigator guidance. EPA state radon contacts page. If a test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher, mitigation typically costs $800-$2,500 installed; use EPA find-a-professional and read the mitigation guide.

East Lansing radon questions

Is radon high in East Lansing, Michigan?
Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across East Lansing (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.3 pCi/L - about 29% below the US average of 1.8 and about 20% below the Michigan average of 1.6. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. East Lansing ranks 18 of 27 Michigan cities on this site.
Which East Lansing ZIP codes have the highest radon?
Predictions for the 4 modeled ZIP codes in East Lansing range from 1.3 to 2.0 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 25% at or above 2. The city is fairly uniform, so the city-wide number is a reasonable guide for any neighborhood.
Should I test for radon in East Lansing?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; East Lansing's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for East Lansing?
East Lansing sits mainly in Ingham County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 2 - moderate potential (2-4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The newer model's city average of 1.3 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 2, which is common - the EPA itself says high-radon homes exist in every zone. Neither replaces a test of your own home.

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