Yes, new homes should be constructed to vent existing radon (and current homes should be tested and remediated against existing radon), radon that exists above-ground for reasons we don't understand. However, the easiest way to stop massive amounts of additional radon from killing Virginians is to keep it contained in the ground where it belongs by not mining Coles Hill.
Published by The Editorial Board
Published: July 31, 2008
Radon is not just Pittsylvania County’s problem. The odorless, colorless, tasteless gas — a byproduct of the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil — is found in houses all over the country.
When radon gas above a certain level is detected in a house, the cost to fix the problem can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
But people who buy new houses should be able to buy the peace of mind that comes with new construction, especially when it comes to the potential for radon problems.
On Monday, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would require new houses in the county to be built to vent radon gas safely away.
The state recommends the ordinance but doesn’t require it. Pittsylvania County — which has substantial, known deposits of uranium under its soils — should take Richmond’s hint.
The proposed ordinance would add a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to the cost of a new house, but it will give the buyers of those new houses the peace of mind that comes from not having to breathe what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls “The health hazard with a simple solution.”
What is that health hazard?
Lung cancer. The EPA believes radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and greatly increases the chance of lung cancer in smokers.
Radon can be present in one home and absent next door. Variables as diverse as soil types, the way a foundation is built and the luck of the draw determine who has a radon problem in their house and who doesn’t.
Radon has been detected in older homes as well as newer ones. It has been found in well-insulated houses and drafty ones, too.
The solution for existing houses is testing followed by remediation. For new houses, an ounce of prevention is worth a much more expensive future cure. Pittsylvania County should require that new houses be built to safely vent radon gas.
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Action Against Radon ) on July 31, 2008 at 9:59 am
Radon induced lung cancer is indeed occuring across the country. The estimates by National Academy of Sciences is that 21,000 people each have their lives claimed by this silent killer. You may go to http://www.cansar.org to see some of those faces and read their words.
Radon control methods built into new homes can reduce the amount of radon entering the homes and I predict in a few years no one will purchase a house unless it has those features. I hope to testify at the hearing in Chatham and speak for those who no longer can.
http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/opinion/editorials/danville_editorials/article/stopping_radon/5361/