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 A Radon  Guide

 For Tenants

 CONTENTS
 Purpose Of This Guide	1
 What Is Radon?	2
 Does Your Home Have High Radon Levels?	3
 Can You Test For Radon Yourself?	4
 What Can You Do If Your Home Has High Radon Levels?	6
 What Can Building Owners Do About Radon Problems?	7
 Are Funds Available To Reduce High Radon Levels
 In Rental Housing?	8
 Renter's Radon Checklist	9
 Additional Resources	10
 Appendix: Radon Testing	 13
        Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

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PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE
      HIS GUIDE is for people who rent their apartments or
      houses. The guide explains what radon is, and how to
      find out if there is a radon problem in your home. The
guide also talks about what you can do if there are high radon
levels in your home.
  At the end of this guide is a list of state radon agencies and
other organizations that may be able to give you additional
information or assistance. Some of those offices have other
materials that may help you learn more about radon. For
example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has developed several booklets, including:
   ®  Citizen's Guide to Radon;
   @  Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction; and
   ®  Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon.
   You can get these and other publications from EPA by
calling the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-767-7236. The
Citizen's Guide to Radon and the Consumer's Guide to Radon
Reduction are also available in Spanish (call 1-800-SALUD12).
  • Research shows that radon causes between 7,000 and
   30,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
  • Over one-third of all housing units in this country are
   rental units. Most of these are either single family houses
   or apartments located below the third floor of a
   building.
  • People living in rented houses and apartment buildings
   can find out whether there are high levels of radon gas
   in their homes. Building owners can fix radon problems
   by having repairs made to the building.

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 WHAT IS RADON?
   Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in soil and rock in all
 parts of the United States. It is formed by the decay of uranium,
 which is a natural process. Radon gas is invisible, and it has no
 odor or taste.

 What Types of Buildings Contain Radon?
 • Radon may be found in all types of homes and buildings in
   the United States. If there is radon gas in the ground, it can
   seep into a building.
 • Radon typically moves up from the ground into a home
   through drains, cracks or other holes in the foundation.
   Radon then can be trapped inside the home.

 How Does Radon Affect Health?
 • Studies show that radon is the second leading cause of lung
   cancer, behind cigarette smoking.
 • The higher the radon level indoors, the greater the amount
   you breathe. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles
   that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As
   they break down, these particles release small bursts of
   energy. This can damage lung tissue.
• Inhaling indoor air containing radon over a period of many
   years can increase your risk of getting lung cancer. Your
   chance of getting lung cancer from radon depends on how
             much radon is in your home and how much
             time you spend in your home. If you are a
                     smoker or a former smoker, the risk of
                      getting lung cancer from radon is
                      even greater.

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DOES YOUR HOME HAVE
HIGH RADON LEVELS?
  You cannot see, smell or taste radon. Therefore, testing is the
only way to determine the radon level in your home.

Has Your Building Been Tested Already?
©  If the building you live in has been tested properly for
   radon, then you probably do not need to test for radon
   yourself. Before or after you move in to your home (whether
   you live in a house or apartment building), you can ask the
   owner if the building has been tested for radon. If the owner
   tells you that radon testing has been done already, you can
   ask for a copy of the test results. If you have questions about
   those results, you can call your state radon office for help, or
   call the National Radon Helpline at 1-800-557-2366.
@  If you do not know whether your building has been tested
   properly for radon, you can test for radon yourself or ask the
   owner to test.
    Because most indoor radon comes from naturally
  occurring radon in the soil, high indoor levels are more
  likely to exist below the third floor. This is why EPA
  recommends testing all homes below the third floor.
    In some cases, high radon levels have been found at or
  above the third floor, due to radon movement through
  elevators or other air shafts in the building. If your
  apartment is at or above the third floor and you are
  concerned about this possibility, you could also decide to
  test for radon.

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 CAN YOU TEST

 FOR RADON YOURSELF?

 •  You can test for radon yourself. You can also hire a
    professional to test your home for radon.
 •  Testing for radon is easy to do, and takes very little time.
 •  To test for radon yourself, you must first get a radon test
    device. You can buy do-it-yourself radon test kits in
    hardware stores and other similar stores. Some laboratories
    provide kits  through mail order. Make sure you get one that
    meets EPA's requirements or your state's requirements — the
    test kit will usually say so on the package.
•  The price of  a radon test kit starts at about ten dollars
    ($10.00). The price generally includes the cost of having a
    laboratory analyze the test. More expensive types of radon
    tests are also available; some of these are do-it-yourself kits,
    and some are used mainly by professional radon testers.
9   If you cannot find a radon test kit in your community, you
    can order a low cost test kit from the National Radon
    Hotline by calling 1-800-767-7236.
    The quickest way to test for radon is with a short-term
  test.  Short-term tests remain in your home for 2 days to
  90 days, depending on the device. Long-term tests remain
  in your home for more than 90 days.
    Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and
  season to season, a long-term test is more likely to tell you
  your home's year-round average radon level than a short-
  term test.
   To get more information about  radon testing methods,
  call the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-767-7236.

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How do you use a radon test kit?
   It is important to follow the instructions that come with the
kit. When you use any radon test, keep in mind:
@ The test kit should be placed in the lowest level of your
   home that your family uses regularly. For example, if you
   live in a house and you use the basement, place the test kit
   there. Otherwise, use the first floor. Put the test kit in a room
   that is used regularly, but NOT in your kitchen or
   bathroom.
9 Keep the test in place for as long as the instructions say, but
   for at least 48 hours. Then, re-seal the package and mail it
   to the laboratory mentioned on the package. Results should
   be sent to you within a few weeks.
% Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible during
   the test. Drafts can affect the test results.


What do radon test results mean?

@ Radon levels are measured in "picocuries per liter" or
   "pCi/L." The higher the level, the greater the risk from long-
   term exposure. EPA recommends that you take action to
   reduce radon if the radon level in your home is 4 pCi/L or
   higher. (This "action level" was set at 4 pCi/L partly because
   it is technically possible to reduce radon to 4 pCi/L in most
   homes.)
@ If you took a short-term test (see box on the previous page)
   and your results were 4 pCi/L or higher, EPA recommends
   doing a second test to confirm the results. You can do this
   follow-up test yourself, or you can contact the owner about
   the owner doing further testing. The Appendix at the back
   of this guide contains an excerpt from EPA's Citizen's Guide
   to  Radon, which explains more about follow-up testing.
• If you have questions about what your test results mean,
   contact your state radon office.

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 WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOUR HOME
 HAS HIGH RADON LEVELS?
   Fixing a radon problem usually involves repairs to the
 building. Therefore, it is generally the building owner — and
 not the tenant — who is authorized to have this work done.
 (See the next page.) However, if your home has high radon
 levels, you can take steps to see that the problem is fixed.
 • If your radon testing shows high radon levels, you should
   inform the building owner in writing. In most states, owners
   are required generally to keep their properties "habitable"
   — safe and fit for people to live in. You can give the owner a
   copy of your test results and discuss what steps the owner
   plans to take to fix the problem. The owner will probably
   need to do more radon testing in the building. You can ask
   for copies of those test results.
• If you live in an apartment building, you can share your
   radon information with other residents. Other residents
   may wish to test their own units or to discuss the matter
   further with the owner. (Even if your radon test showed low
   radon levels, there may be high levels in other parts of the
   building.)
• If you are concerned that a radon problem in your
   building is not being fixed, you may want to get more
   information and advice. For example, your state radon
   office can provide you and the building owner with more
   specific information about testing for and fixing radon
   problems. Local community organizations that work on
   radon or housing problems may be able to help find ways
   to fix the radon problem in your building. For legal advice,
   you can contact your local bar association for help in
   finding a lawyer. Or, limited income tenants can contact the
   nearest legal services office to find out if free legal assistance
   is available. (See the end of this guide for telephone
   numbers.)

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WHAT CAN BUILDING OWNERS
DO ABOUT; RADON PROBLEMS?
  As mentioned earlier, rental property owners are usually
responsible for keeping their properties in a safe and fit
condition. There are steps that rental property owners can take
to address the problem of high radon levels.
®  High radon levels can be reduced by making repairs to the
   building. The right system depends on the design of the
   building and other factors. State radon offices or the Radon
   Fix It Line (1-800-644-6999) can provide general
   information on methods for reducing radon. Also, the EPA's
   Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction is a quick and easy way
   to learn more about the different ways to fix radon
   problems.
•• Radon reduction costs between $500 and $2,500 for a single
   family home. For a larger building, the costs will depend on
   the size and other characteristics of the building.
®  Radon reduction work generally requires a trained
   professional. To find out which radon reduction system is
   right for a building, and how much those repairs will cost,
   building owners should consult with a professional radon
   contractor.
©  The EPA and many states have
   programs set up to train or certify
   radon professionals. Your state
   radon office can provide a list
   of individuals who have •
   completed state or
   federal programs.
   Or, you can call the
   Radon Fix It Line for
   free publications, referrals
   or a list of EPA-approved
   radon mitigators in your state.

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 ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE
 TO REDUCE HIGH RADON LEVELS
 IN RENTAL HOUSING?

 • There are some federal programs that might be used to help
   fund radon reduction in homes that are affordable to
   limited income families. These programs generally give
   money to local agencies or groups, which then fund the
   work. Some examples are:
   • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
     program — funds rehabilitation and repair of affordable
     housing. For more information, call the U.S. Department
     of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at
    . 202-708-3587.
   • "203k" program — funds rehabilitation and repair of
     single family homes. For more information, call HUD at
     202-708-2121.
   • Environmental Justice Grants — funds community-
     based organizations and tribal governments addressing
     environmental concerns of people of color and low
     income communities. For more information, call EPA's
     Office of Environmental Justice at 1-800-962-6215.
•  Some states have governmental programs that can
   provide loans for radon reduction work in limited
   income housing.
•  Some community groups are raising funds from private
   companies and foundations to pay for radon reduction in
   limited income homes. One  of these groups is the
   Pennsylvania Resources Council — for more information
   about its work, call 610-353-1555.
  To find out more about federal and state programs, or about
how community groups have developed local projects to fix
radon problems, owners and residents can contact the govern-
ment agencies and organizations listed at the end of this guide.

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RENTER'S RADON CHECKLIST
•  Find out whether the building you live in has been tested for
   radon.
••  If your building has not been tested for radon, ask the
   building owner to test, or test your own apartment or house.
•  Follow the instructions included in your radon test kit. If
   your short-term test shows radon levels above 4 pCi/L, EPA
   recommends doing a follow-up test.
•  If your test shows radon levels above 4 pCi/L, notify
   the building owner of the test results in writing.
   Discuss with the owner the need for additional
   testing and radon reduction repairs.
•  If you have high radon levels or if you
   need additional information and
   assistance about radon testing and
   radon repairs, contact your state
   radon office, the National Radon
   Helpline or other organizations
   that work on radon or housing
   issues.
    Smoking combined with exposure to high radon
  levels is an even more serious health risk. If you smoke
  or are a former smoker, the presence of radon greatly
  increases your risk of lung cancer. If you stop smoking
  and lower your radon levels, you will reduce your lung
  cancer risk.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

State Radon Contacts
  The following telephone numbers are for government offices
that address radon.  If you have trouble reaching a radon office
in your state, or if you would like information on tribal
government radon programs, call the National Radon Helpline
at 1-800-557-2366.
      Alabama
    (800) 862-1866
       Alaska
    (800) 478-8324
      Arizona
    (602) 255-4845
      Arkansas
    (501) 661-2301
      California
    (800) 745-7236
      Colorado
    (800) 846-3986
     Connecticut
    (860) 509-7367
      Delaware
    (302) 739-4731
      Florida
    (800) 543-8279
      Georgia
    (800) 745-0037
      Hawaii
    (808) 586-4700
       Idaho
    (800) 445-8647
      Illinois
    (800) 325-1245
      Indiana
    (800) 272-9723
        Iowa
    (800) 383-5992
      Kansas
    (800) 693-5343
      Kentucky
    (502) 564-4856
     Louisiana
    (800) 256-2494
      Maine
   (800) 232-0842
     Maryland
   (877) 352-1973
   Massachusetts
   (413) 586-7525
     Michigan
   (800) 723-6642
    Minnesota
   (800) 798-9050
    Mississippi
   (800) 626-7739
     Missouri
   (800) 669-7236
     Montana
   (406) 444-6697
     Nebraska
   (800) 334-9491
     Nevada
(702) 687-5394 x 275
  New Hampshire
   (603) 271-4674
    New Jersey
   (800) 648-0394
   New Mexico
   (505) 827-1557
    New York
   (800)458-1158
  North Carolina
   (919)571-4141
   North Dakota
   (701) 328-5188
      Ohio
   (800) 523-4439
    Oklahoma
  (405) 271-7634
      Oregon
   (503) 731-4014
   Pennsylvania
   (800) 237-2366
   Rhode Island
   (401) 222-2438
   South Carolina
   (800) 768-0362
   South Dakota
   (605) 773-3351
     Tennessee
   (800)232-1139
       Texas
   (512) 834-6688
       Utah
   (800) 458-0145
     Vermont
   (800) 439-8550
     Virginia
   (800) 468-0138
   Washington
   (360) 236-3253
   West Virginia
   (800) 922-1255
    Wisconsin
   (888) 569-7236
    Wyoming
   (800) 458-5847

District of Columbia
   (202) 727-5728

   Puerto Rico
   (787) 274-7815

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Radon Information Hotlines
  The following telephone numbers are run
by non-governmental, non-profit
organizations.
© To receive general information on radon:
      National Radon Hotline
      (National Safety Council)
      1-800-SOS-RADON
      (1-800-767-7236)
© To ask general questions about radon:
      National Radon Helpline
      (National Safety Council)
      1-800-55-RADON
      (1-800-557-2366)
• To get information on how to fix a radon problem:
      Radon Fix It Line
      (Consumer Federation of America)
      1 -800-644-6999
® To ask general questions about radon in Spanish:
      COSSMHO Information Line
      (Coalition of Hispanic Health and
      Human Services Organizations)
      1-800-SALUD12
      (1-800-725-8312)
      202-387-5000

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 Non-Governmental Organizations
  In addition to the radon information hotlines, you can call
the following organizations for information or assistance.
 • To find out more about radon and
   local radon programs:
      American Lung Association
      To contact your local chapter, call 1-800-LUNG-USA
      Environmental Law Institute
      1616 P Street, N.W., Suite 200
      Washington, D.C. 20036
      202-939-3800
9 To find a housing and community development organization
   near you that works on affordable housing issues:
      National Congress for
      Community Economic Development
      1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
      Washington, D.C.
      202-234-5009
*  To find a legal services office near you that works on affordable
  housing issues:
     National Legal Aid and Defender Association
      1625 K Street, N.W. Suite 800
     Washington, D.C. 20006
     (202) 452-0620

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APPENDIX — RADON TESTING
The following is an excerpt from EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon:

EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:

Step 1
  Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/l or higher*, take a
follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure.

Step 2
  Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term
test:
  © For a better understanding of your year-round average radon
     level, take a long-term test.
  H If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
  The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain
you can be that you should take a short-term rather than a long-
term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is several
times the action level — for example, about 10 pCi/L or higher —
you should take a second short-term test immediately.

Step 3
  H If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if
     your long-term test result is 4pCi/L or more*.
  ® If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher
     your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you
     should fix your home. Cpnsider fixing your home if the
     average of your first and second test is 4pCi/L or higher*.

  * 0.02 Working Levels (WL) or higher.

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