Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Lori R. Egan

To the Editor:

I would like to think our Legislators are doing the job of finding ways to improve our lives, and that includes decreasing the risk of cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released from soil and rock that can enter buildings through foundations and accumulate indoors.

The EPA and CDC identify radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths each year. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked, and exposure combined with smoking significantly increases risk.

Iowa experiences some of the highest radon levels in the nation, approximately 71.6 percent of Iowa homes have radon concentrations at or above the EPA action, the highest proportion of any state. The EPA has designated all of Iowa as Zone 1, meaning the state has a high potential for elevated indoor radon levels due to underlying geology.

Health data indicate the significance of this exposure. Radon is estimated to cause about 400 lung cancer deaths annually in Iowa, a figure comparable to the number of traffic related deaths in the state each year. Average indoor radon concentrations in Iowa homes are measured at more than six times the national average, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.

Radon resistant new construction (RRNC) is a recognized set of building techniques designed to reduce radon entry into homes. The methods used are intended to reduce radon accumulation and are compatible with typical residential construction practices.

Federal and state environmental health agencies note that incorporating radon resistant features during initial construction is more cost effective than installing mitigation systems after a home is completed. Radon resistant construction standards represent an established approach for addressing a known environmental health risk at the earliest practical stage of home building.

Iowa Legislators have recognized the importance of this preventative approach. There is currently a bill, House File 2297, that is waiting to be put on the Senate’s Debate Calendar. The bill passed the House by an 87-4 result.

Please take action and contact Senator Mike Klimesh at mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov or call 515-281-3371 and request this bill be placed on the Senate’s Debate Calendar.

Sincerely,
Lori R. Egan
Waukon