In the News

14th National Radon Meeting, November 7-10, 2004

Marriot Hotel, Newport, RI.  See the Conference of Radiation Control Program Director's web site for more information - http://www.crcpd.org/meetings.asp#2004RnMtg

Request for Applications (RFA) for Grants/Funding

This action “Radon Communication, Education, Outreach, And Risk Reduction Projects” - RFA# OAR-ORIA-IED-04-16 - Closing Date: January 17, 2004, announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from national non-profit organizations, public and private agencies, and institutions of higher learning for projects that will support communication, education, and outreach that will address the reduction of the public's exposure to elevated levels of indoor radon gas.  Download the Request for Applications (RFA) - Initial Announcement (a 47 KB, 10 pp., PDF file)

Federal Housing Commissioner takes action on radon

On May 28, 2004, Dr. John C. Weicher, the Federal Housing Commissioner issued a radon gas and mold Notice (H 2004-08) requiring that a release agreement (HUD-9548-E) be included in all sales contracts for HUD-acquired single family properties. The agreement notifies purchasers of the potential health problems caused by exposure to radon and some molds. Required use of the agreement expires on May 31, 2005. In fiscal year 2004 HUD sold about 78,000 Real Estate Owned (REO) single-family properties. View the Commissioner’s Notice (H-2004-08) and download the release agreement (HUD-9548-E - a MS Word file) at www.hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/pdfforms/9548-e.doc

January 2005 is National Radon Action Month!

EPA and organizations nationwide dedicate January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed.  Did you know?

• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer
• Nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has a high level of indoor radon
• The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend all homes be tested for radon.
• Homes with high radon levels can be fixed.

 Read more about National Radon Action Month!

National Radon Results - 1985-2003 (updated version of 1985-1999 report)

Since radon’s advent as a National health concern in the mid-1980s, the United States has made significant progress in reducing the risk from radon. This progress is the result of a long-term effort between EPA, citizens, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, the business community, and other Federal agencies working together.  Since 1985, millions of homes have been tested for radon, and an estimated 800,000 homes have been mitigated.  In addition, approximately 1.2 million new homes have been built with radon-resistant features since 1990. EPA will continue to focus its risk reduction on mitigating existing homes and building new homes radon-resistant. As a result of these actions through 2003, EPA estimates that as many as 650 future lung cancer deaths are prevented (lives saved) each year.

*The National Radon Results: 1985 to 1999 report has been updated to reflect more recent data through 2003. A full update to the report, now called Progress in Reducing the Risk From Radon in America’s Homes has been drafted and will be posted here when completed.  Download the Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the report natl_radon_results_update.pdf (a 200KB file).

Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes

The Agency has updated the estimates of lung cancer risks from indoor radon based on the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) report on radon, the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report.  These new estimates will be used to update estimated lung cancer risks from radon in various publications.  Read More...

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