June 6, 2006

With the new construction season heating up, prospective home builders and buyers may want to consider radon when having a new home built. Radon-resistant new construction is already required by the Michigan residential code in nine high-radon potential counties (Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, St. Joseph, and Washtenaw), and though builders in other counties are not required to use radon-resistant construction techniques, some are voluntarily adopting the process, and buyers can request the system in their new home.

“Radon-resistant new construction is easy, inexpensive, and most importantly, effective,” said Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester. “A system installed during construction can help significantly reduce radon levels in a home, and keep our families safe.”

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock, and it is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon can accumulate to unhealthy levels when it leaks into a home through foundation openings, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that it results in approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year.

Radon-resistant new construction techniques allow the gas to bypass the house and be vented out to the atmosphere, above the roof, where it can be quickly diluted and dispersed. Radon-resistant new construction typically costs between $350 and $500, while retrofitting an existing home generally ranges from $800 to $1,500.

Radon-resistant construction does not guarantee low radon levels, so residents are still encouraged to test for it after construction is completed. Potential new home buyers can confer with the DEQ or their local health department about radon levels in their community, and decide whether radon-resistant construction is right for them.

For more detailed information about radon and radon-resistant home construction, visit the DEQ Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqradon or call the DEQ Radon Program at 1-800-RADON GAS (1-800-723-6642) for a free packet of information.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised June 6, 2006 by Pat Watson