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IN THIS ISSUE |
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U.S. Surgeon General on
Radon
World Health Organization
recognizes Radon risk
Federal Housing Commissioner on
Radon
Justice
Property Inspections certified for Radon
Measurements
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 Americans
Urged to Test for
Radon
TheU.S. Surgeon General, Richard Carmona,
Issues New National Health Advisory on Radon
On January 13, 2005
the Surgeon General of the United
States issued a Health
Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from
exposure to radon in indoor air. The Nation’s Chief
Physician urged Americans to test their homes to find
out how much radon they might be breathing. Dr. Carmona
also stressed the need to remedy the problem as soon as
possible when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more. Dr.
Carmona noted that more than 20,000 Americans die of
radon-related lung cancer each
year.
Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless
gas, with no immediate health symptoms, that comes from
the breakdown of uranium inside the earth. Simple test
kits can reveal the amount of radon in any building.
Those with high levels can be fixed with simple and
affordable venting techniques. According to U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, one in
every 15 homes nationwide have a high radon level at or
above the recommended radon action level of 4 picoCuries
(pCi/L) per liter of
air.
www.JusticePropertyInspections
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International Effort to Reduce
Radon Risk
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World
Health Organization (WHO) recognizes radon as serious
health risk
(06/24/05)
Recognizing indoor radon as a significant cause of lung
cancer around the world, the World Health Organization
(WHO), in collaboration with EPA and participating
countries, is launching and organizing an International
Radon Project aimed at helping countries reduce the
health risks associated with indoor radon. The approach
will focus on increasing public awareness about this
invisible health threat and what can be done to reduce
the risk. Radon is the second leading cause of lung
cancer after smoking and the World Health Organization
estimates that radon could cause up to 15 percent of
lung cancers globally. EPA will participate in
workgroups and contribute $120,000. This international
effort will complement the nationwide radon program run
by EPA in the
United States
. For additional
information on the initiative, visit:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2005/np15/en/index.html,
or for general information about radon, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/radon
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Federal Housing Commissioner takes action on
Radon
On May 28, 2004, Dr. John C.
Weicher, the Federal Housing Commissioner issued a
radon gas and mold Notice (H 2004-08) requiring that a
release agreement (HUD-9548-E) be included in all
sales contracts for HUD-acquired single family
properties. The agreement notifies purchasers of the
potential health problems caused by exposure to radon
and some molds. Required use of the agreement expires
on May 31st 2005. In
fiscal year 2004 HUD sold about 78,000 Real Estate
Owned (REO) single-family properties.
View the Commissioner’s
Notice (H-2004-08) and download the release agreement (HUD-9548-E
- a MS Word file) at
www.hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/pdfforms/9548-e.doc
In a January 22, 2004
letter, Dr. John C. Weicher, the Federal Housing
Commissioner at HUD informed Federal Housing
Administration (FHA) mortgagees that its home
inspection form (HUD 92564-CN) had been revised. The
new form now includes information on radon in indoor
air which reiterates the EPA and U.S. Surgeon General
testing recommendation and refers readers to EPA’s
1-800-SOS-Radon hotline. The form is mandatory for all
FHA insured mortgages. Homebuyers must sign the form
before/at the time a sales contract is executed.
In fiscal 2003 HUD issued about 1.3 million FHA
insured loans.
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National Radon Proficiency
Program
Individuals holding the
Residential Measurement Provider certification have
demonstrated knowledge of U.S. EPA radon measurement
protocols for the placement and retrieval of radon
measurement devices. They have also demonstrated
knowledge of the proper interpretation of results
obtained in residential settings.
These individuals are authorized
to place devices that are analyzed by a NEHA certified
analytical laboratory. Depending upon the location of
the laboratory where the devices are to be analyzed, and
specific shipping arrangements that have been
established, results are not generally available
immediately upon conclusion of the radon test. http://www.radongas.org/measurement/OR.html
Justice Property Inspections
has become
Certified with NRPP in order to provide professional
Radon Measurement services.
We use a "Continuous Radon Monitor"
which provides test results in 48 hours with out the
need of sending off for Lab results.
Please call us at 1-888-414-4107
with any questions you might have. We can also provide one
hour CE classes concerning Radon in residential
homes. |
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