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*. U.S. Environmental Protecti"" finon'>u	h onnQ
\ Office of Inspector General
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	June 3,2008
At a Glance
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Catalyst for Improving the Environment
Why We Did This Review
Indoor radon is the leading
cause of lung cancer among
non-smokers and the second
leading cause of lung cancer
in America, according to the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and
U.S. Surgeon General. We
conducted this evaluation to
determine how EPA measures
indoor radon program results,
and whether changes at the
federal level could improve
program effectiveness. We
also identified challenges to
implementing changes.
Background
Radon is an odorless, tasteless,
and invisible gas produced by
decay of naturally occurring
uranium in soil and water.
Radon is found throughout the
United States. Indoor
residential exposure occurs
when radon gas enters through
cracks in floors, walls, and
construction joints, or gaps in
foundations around pipes,
wires, and pumps. According
to EPA, more than 20,000
Americans die from radon-
related lung cancer every year.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional and Public
Liaison at (202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.aov/oia/reports/2008/
20080603-08-P-0174.pdf
More Action Needed to Protect Public from
indoor Radon Risks
What We Found
Nearly two decades after passage of the 1988 Indoor Radon Abatement Act
(IRAA), exposure to indoor radon continues to grow. Efforts to reduce exposure
through mitigation or building with radon-resistant new construction have not kept
pace. Of 6.7 million new single family detached homes built nationwide between
2001 and 2005, only about 469,000 incorporated radon-resistant features. Of
76.1 million existing single family homes in the United States in 2005, only about
2.1 million had radon-reducing features in place.
The IRAA established the goal that indoor air should be as free of radon as
outdoor air. Since 1988, EPA has administered a voluntary program to reduce
exposure to indoor radon by promoting awareness, testing, installation of radon
mitigation systems in existing homes, and use of radon-resistant new construction
techniques. Still, building codes in some areas do not require new homes to be
built with radon-resistant new construction. Much of the progress made in
reducing exposure has occurred as a result of real estate transactions. In those
cases, a buyer, seller, mortgage lender, and/or real estate agent requested that a
home be tested. Some States and localities do not require testing or the disclosure
of test results during real estate transactions.
The radon program is not achieving greater results for several reasons. EPA's
ability to achieve results with a voluntary program is limited. Potential loss of a
sale represents a disincentive for real estate agents and sellers to conduct radon
tests during real estate transactions. Added expense represents a disincentive for
builders to use radon-resistant new construction. Opportunities exist within the
federal community to substantially increase the number of homes tested and
mitigated for radon. EPA has not decided how to use all the authorities or tools
available to it to achieve the Act's goals. Also, EPA has not been reporting
program results in relation to homes at risk in its performance reporting.
What We Recommend
We recommended that EPA develop a strategy for achieving the long-term goal of
the IRAA that considered using the authorities authorized by Congress or explain
its alternative strategy, which it agreed to do. We also recommended that EPA
identify limitations to meeting the goal to Congress. EPA responded that it does
not believe the IRAA goal is achievable. While EPA agrees that the problem of
radon exposure gets worse each year, it did not agree to notify Congress that the
goal set by the statute is unachievable. We consider this issue open and
unresolved. We also recommended improvements to how EPA measures and
reports program results, which it agreed to do.

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