October 20, 2006

As Radon Action Week comes to a close, the Department of Environmental Quality is reminding new home buyers that while new home construction often includes the use of radon-resistant techniques, they still should be tested for radon.

"A system installed during construction can help to significantly reduce radon levels in a home," says DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "Whether or not a new home has a passive radon vent system, it should be tested to be sure the radon levels are low."

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 United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that it results in approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. Studies project that more than 600 of those lung cancers occur in Michigan alone.

Passive radon systems built into new homes can 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. Since the passive systems do not guarantee low radon levels, a test should be conducted after construction is completed and the house is considered livable. If elevated radon levels are found, the system can be easily activated with the addition of an in-line fan. Active systems are very effective at reducing radon levels.

Do-it-yourself radon test kits are available from local health departments, as well as from some home improvement centers and hardware stores. If an independent party is needed to do the test, lists of radon measurement professionals are available from the National Environmental Health Association (www.radongas.org) and the National Radon Safety Board (www.nrsb.org), or from the DEQ or your local health department.

The Michigan Residential Code requires radon-resistant construction 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.

"Testing is easy and inexpensive, and it will provide peace of mind to know your family is safe," added Director Chester.

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. Also, for a step-by-step guide on how to build radon-resistant homes, visit the U.S. EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/radon/images/buildradonout.pdf.

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 October 20, 2006 by Pat Watson