| According to the Office of the Surgeon General: Indoor radon gas is a serious health problem in our nation that can be addressed by individual action. Unless people become aware of the danger radon poses, they will not act. Millions of homes are estimated to have elevated radon levels. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is straight-forward. Like the hazards from smoking, the health risks of radon can be reduced. |
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Do you rent your home? This guide is for people who rent their apartments or houses. The guide explains what radon is, and how to find out if there is a radon problem in your home. The guide also talks about what you can do if there are high radon levels in your home. Read The Guide |
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You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon can be found all over the United States. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building—homes, offices, and schools—and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time. Read more about how Radon gets into your home and what you can do about it. |
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| World Health Organization - WHO launches project to minimize risks of radon. 21 JUNE 2005 | GENEVA -- In an effort to reduce the rate of lung cancer around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching the International Radon Project to help countries reduce the health risks associated with radon gas. The Project will identify effective strategies for reducing the health impact of radon, promote sound policy options for countries and increase public and political awareness about the consequences of exposure to radon. Read More |
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| New HUD Requirements Regarding Home Inspections & Radon Testing On February 21, 2004, thirty days after their January announcement, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will begin requiring two new documents to be distributed to every applicant for an FHA mortgage. The first document, revised HUD Form 92564-CN is entitled, “For Your Protection: Get a Home Inspection.” In addition to explaining to the mortgagee why a buyer needs a home inspection and clarifying the distinction between a home inspection and an appraisal, this form now clearly discloses that “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General have recommended that ALL houses should be tested for radon” and explains, “As with a home inspection, if you decide to test for radon, you may do so before signing your contract, or you may do so after signing the contract as long as your contract states the sale of the home depends on your satisfaction with the results of the radon test.” WHAT THE NEW HUD MORTGAGEE NOTICES MEAN TO HOME INSPECTORS Some legal advisors have long recommended that professional home inspectors require a signed acknowledgement that the homebuyer was presented with written disclosure of EPA’s radon test recommendation. The argument has been that since the inspector is aware the recommendation applies to ALL homebuyers, he has a duty to disclose it. The new HUD Mortgage Letter and Form may add more importance to the inspector obtaining a signed radon recommendation disclosure statement from every client. First, assume that other Government Service Entities (FANNIE and FREDDIE) as well as traditional mortgage underwriters are going to follow HUD’s lead in order to obtain conforming loan packages that can easily be bought or sold. Second, HUD Form 92564-CN clearly recommends that for their protection, all purchasers should get a home inspection. According to the Mortgagee Letter, the form “incorporates radon testing as one of the components of a home inspection.” The Mortgagee is to initial by their choice to have or not to have a home inspection; it does not provide the same choice for a radon test. To avoid any inference that the inspection included a radon test in the event the purchaser declined, it may be imperative for the inspector to obtain a signed radon disclosure that acknowledges that fact. Another less known factor is a HUD regulation requiring the use of “current techniques by qualified professionals” when performing environmental testing. An inspector performing a radon test when he is not certified or licensed to perform radon testing may leave everyone open to potential liability. Read More |
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| Consumer’s Guide To Radon Reduction How to fix your home. |
| Radon |