Radon is a radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors when it enters buildings from the soil and rock below. Indoor exposure to radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to test for radon, and there are well-established techniques for reducing elevated radon levels.
This report provides information to support the development of laws, regulations, and other policies to reduce indoor exposure to radon in homes. The report describes state radon policies in effect as of 2012 and highlights opportunities for strengthening future policies to accelerate action and reduce radon risks. While the focus of this report is on policy at the state level, some of the strategies discussed here are also relevant to the adoption of local and tribal radon policies.
Overview of the Report
Elevated radon levels have been found in every state in the country, and many states have established policies that advance the following key strategies for reducing radon risks in homes.
Certification of Radon Service Professionals. States can support increased radon testing and mitigation and protect consumers by establishing a standard of quality for radon professionals. The report describes policies in 13 states that require state certification or licensing of radon testing and mitigation professionals.
Radon in New Home Construction. Well-established radon control measures can be integrated into the construction of single-family and multi-family properties. The report describes seven states that require passive radon control techniques in new homes in some or all areas of the state, based largely on the model provided in Appendix F of the International Residential Code.
Radon in the Real Estate Transaction. The transfer of single-family and multi-family properties is an important opportunity to promote radon testing and mitigation. The report describes 32 state policies that require sellers to provide buyers with some type of radon disclosure when a residential property is sold. The majority of these policies require disclosure only of radon information already known to the seller; some also require sellers to provide a brief general radon warning statement or fact sheet.
Radon in Rental Dwellings. Around one-third of households in the U.S. rent their homes. State landlord-tenant statutes, housing maintenance codes, and radon laws are important and largely untapped opportunities for preventing and fixing radon hazards in rental housing. The report describes a few state laws that either require landlords to test for radon or require landlords to disclose known radon hazards to tenants.
Since 2012, there have been important developments in voluntary radon codes and standards, as well as in state radon policies. For example, several additional jurisdictions have established radon control requirements for new home construction. Minnesota enacted state licensing of radon professionals and both Illinois and Colorado have strengthened their laws to require more robust radon notification and lease protections for tenants. These and other radon laws are included in ELI’s Database of State IAQ Laws.
Explore other materials from ELI’s Indoor Environments Program.
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