January Is National Radon Action Month

Guest post by Jeanette Marrero, U.S. EPA Region 5’s Air and Radiation Division

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil and can accumulate in homes. Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage our lungs and, over a long period of time, lead to lung cancer. In fact, exposure to radon is the top cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Approximately 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer due to radon exposure.

Testing is the only way to know if a home has an elevated level of radon. Affordable do-it-yourself radon test kits are available online and at most home improvement and hardware stores. Qualified radon professionals can also test homes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking measures to reduce radon in homes with levels at or above 4 pCi/L and to consider undertaking measures to reduce radon at levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Winter is a great time to test since windows are typically kept closed.

EPA provides grants to states and tribes to spread the word about radon and encourage testing through the State & Tribal Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) program.

Also, there will be a webinar on funding assistance for radon mitigation projects open to local, state, and nongovernmental organizations on Jan. 30, 2024 from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Central time).

What Local Governments Can Do

The best strategies to reduce risk from radon are:

• Get more people to test homes and buildings.
• Support mitigation of high radon levels.
• Encourage construction of new homes and buildings that are radon resistant.

Local governments can:

1. Work with state radon programs to conduct local outreach campaigns promoting testing and offering low-cost test kits.
2. Use EPA’s Radon Media Resources for Partners and Stakeholders to promote testing and mitigation, particularly in winter when conditions are best for testing.
3. Adopt Building Codes and Standards for Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC) in ordinances (Minnesota requires RRNC at the state level).
4. Pursue funding for installation of mitigation systems, which is not covered by EPA’s SIRG funding but is offered through other agencies including USDA and HUD.

Funding Opportunities for Radon Mitigation

Questions? Contact your state radon program or EPA contacts:

Jeanette Marrero, [email protected]; Juan Morales ([email protected])