Your Body Almanac

North Dakota

Radon in every county, brutal wind chill, and West Nile in summer.

North Dakota is one of only two states where every county sits in EPA's highest radon zone. Winters are long, dark and dangerously cold, and the summer mosquito season brings some of the highest West Nile virus rates in the country.

01

High radon statewide

Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from soil into homes, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don't smoke. Every North Dakota county is in EPA's Zone 1, and the state reports that about 63 percent of homes are above EPA's action level. Testing is cheap and fixes are well established.

SourcesRadon fact sheet (North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality)North Dakota — EPA Map of Radon Zones (EPA)Health risk of radon (EPA)
Test your home for radonAs neededRadon is invisible and odorless, so a simple test is the only way to know your level. Fix it at 4 pCi/L or higher.
02

Extreme cold and wind chill

Strong winds on open plains push wind chills far below the air temperature, and exposed skin can freeze in minutes on the worst days. Hypothermia can also creep up during long outdoor work or a car breakdown on a rural road.

SourcesWind Chill Chart (National Weather Service)Winter Weather (CDC)
Dress in layers for the coldAs neededWear several loose layers, a hat, gloves and waterproof insulated boots, and carry spares.
03

West Nile virus from mosquito bites

From 2009 to 2018, North Dakota had the highest average rate of serious, brain-affecting West Nile illness in the US. Most cases start between July and September. Older adults face the highest risk of severe disease.

SourcesSurveillance for West Nile Virus Disease — United States, 2009–2018 (CDC MMWR)
Use insect repellentAs neededUse an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin when mosquitoes or ticks are around.
04

Little winter sun for vitamin D

Your skin makes vitamin D from the sun's UVB rays. A classic study found that winter sunlight at 42 degrees north made no vitamin D in skin from November through February, and at 52 degrees north the gap ran from October through March. North Dakota sits between 46 and 49 degrees, so for much of the year food is the more reliable source.

SourcesVitamin D — Health Professional Fact Sheet (NIH ODS)Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3 (Webb et al., 1988, PubMed)
Get vitamin D from foodDailyEat fatty fish, fortified milk and UV-exposed mushrooms so you are not relying on the sun alone. Ask your doctor about vitamin DYearlyIf you get little sun or few vitamin D foods, ask at your checkup whether testing or a supplement makes sense for you.

When to see a professional

Get care for numb, hard or waxy-looking skin after cold exposure, or for sudden severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or weakness in summer. Tell your doctor about any long-term radon exposure, especially if you smoke or used to.