Element 86

There's been a lot of hype about Element 86 (aka Radon- who says you don't need to know the periodic table!)  Maybe more so in the Midwest where there are basements...you don't have too many of those in earthquake country.

Something I didn't know is that radon levels fluctuate dramatically within a 48 hour time period.  Honestly, I didn't know that.  Since it's a gas, i guess that makes sense.  I just didn't know that it could shift from top to bottom of the scale in that time period.

It turns out the best time to have that tested is during the rainy season because radon rises from the ground like inch worms, so it will be at its highest following the rain.  And that's exactly what you want to know:  how high does the radon get.

But honestly, if the radon levels fluctuate wildly, how useful is the $160 test?  

I guess, erring on the safe side, wouldn't you want to have some way of removing it from the basements?  

Why isn't it required?