Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: December 16, 1999
CONTACT: Edmond Arcand
Office of Occupational & Radiological Health 401-222-2438

THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ANNOUNCE THAT JANUARY IS RADON AWARENESS MONTH

Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) 
Urges Home Testing for Radon 
Radon is the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer
 in the U.S.

HEALTH joins with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to educate Rhode Islanders about the dangers of radon exposure. These agencies encourage all Rhode Islanders to identify and fix radon problems in their homes. Radon Awareness Month draws attention to radon as a serious public health issue and motivates Rhode Islanders to protect themselves from radon health effects. Radon is present in elevated levels in about 23% of the screening tests performed in homes in RI, compared to about 7% of homes in the US.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air. When trapped in buildings, radon can be harmful at elevated levels. The science on radon shows that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented the findings of its Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This NAS report is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon is a serious public health problem. The NAS concluded that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. Dr. Patricia Nolan, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health says "Because you can’t see or smell radon, people minimize its health effects, and there’s a tendency to ignore the possibility that elevated radon levels might exist in their homes."Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive. And, if discovered, radon problems can be fixed. Radon test kits that meet EPA guidelines are available at some retail outlets, and laboratories, or through a certified radon measurement consultant. Information on how to purchase a radon detector or locate a measurement consultant is available from the state radon office at (401)-222-2438. A qualified licensed contractor can fix radon problems for a cost similar to that for many common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed (from $500 to about $2,500).

HEALTH urges residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Awareness Month by testing their homes for radon: a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution. For more information on radon, radon testing, and radon mitigation, call the Health Department’s Office of Occupational & Radiological Health at (401) 222-2438.