Philip P' Jalbert

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U.S. EPA Indoor Radon Policy Two Decades of
Experience
Duke University Workshop on Radon
Occurrence (October 4th 2006)

• Philip P. Jalbert
• Indoor Environments Division. U.S. EPA
• jalbert.philip_at_epa.gov, 202.343.9431

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EPAs Indoor Radon Program

• National and Voluntary (4pCi/L Action Level)
• Outreach Strong State-Tribal Programs
• Partnerships with Federal Agencies, States
• Counties, NGOs, Industry (NEHA, NRSB, AARST)
• Institutionalize/Promote Action in the
  Marketplace
• Epidemiological Science
• Measurement Mitigation Technology
• Consensus Standards (ASTM E2121, E1465)

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EPA Map of Radon Zones

• Legend
• Zone 1
• Zone 2
• Zone 3

Z1 - Predicted average indoor screening level gt
than 4 pCi/L Z2 - Predicted average indoor
screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L Z3 -
Predicted average indoor screening level less
than 2 pCi/L
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Action Level - 4pCi/L(148 Bq/m3)
About 21,000 radon related lung cancer deaths
annually
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Scope of the Radon Risk in Homes

• c. 100M should test homes
• c. 6 (115) of homes gt 4 pCi/L
• c. 5.5-6.0M existing homes gt 4 pCi/L
• c. 60,000 new homes/yr gt 4 pCi/L

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Risk Reduction Endpoints

• Existing Homes (test/mitigate)
• 7.5M Real Estate Transactions annually
• 45K Relocations daily
• New Homes (radon-resistant, test/mitigate)
• Code Adoption by States, Counties Localities
• ICC/IRC (App F), NFPA 5000
• RRNC Adoption by Builders

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2012

• Goal is to have 3.9M homes w/reduced risk
• 8.4M homes gt 4 pCi/L
• 1.5 M w/operating mitigation system (HOMS)
• 632K HOMS (2005) (93K in 05)
• (data from radon vent fan manufacturers)
• 2.4M built radon-resistant (RRNC)
• 1.3M (2004) (85K in 04)
• (data from NAHB/RC annual survey)

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Radon-ready/resistant (RRNC)
Reductions of up to 50 w/a passive system
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Mitigating Existing Homes
Reductions lt4 pCi/L (95), lt2 pCi/L (70)
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Lives Saved-Lung Cancer Deaths Prevented
Based on the EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon
in Homes findings, and the EPA Technical Support
Document methodology.
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Radon-SIRG FY06 Budget(8.7M)

• SIRG 7.4M (85)
• (an average of 7.8M per year since 2002)
• (Presidents request for FY07 is 8M)
• CRAT 1.3M (15)
• Contracts 850K
• Partners 480K
• Center for Radon Air Toxics, IED, ORIA,
  EPA

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Principal Public Policy Guidance

• www.epa.gov/radon
• Citizens Guide to Radon (1992, 2005)
• Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon (1993,
  2005)
• Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction (2003)
• Building Radon Out (2001)
• EPA Map of Radon Zones (1993)
• EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
  (2003)
• Technical Support Document (1992)

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Major Outreach Tools(Real Estate, Consumers,
Builders, Schools)
Real
PSA Rooftops
EPA Website www.epa.gov/radon
Estate
Consumers
Schools
Builders
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EmmyMan on the Street
2001
EPAs Kristy Miller (3rd from left)
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New Public Service Campaign U.S. Surgeon General
TV, Print (Magazine, Newspaper), Radio
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Challenges Opportunities

• Educating professionals education, health
  medical, press, industry, real estate
  state/local Tribal governments
• Getting builders their subcontractors to
  install radon-resistant features correctly
• Finite State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) funding
• Balancing State-Tribal requests for SIRG funds
  50 States 562 Tribes, Native Peoples

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Challenges Opportunities

• Including radon in green/healthy building
  programs e.g., EnergyStar Homes w/IAQ Package,
  LEED, home performance contracting
• Measuring results at the State-Tribal level
• Perception that concentrations lt4 pCi/L are
  safe (i.e., low or no risk)
• Explaining the differences in risk between radon
  in air and drinking water

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Radon IAQ Info
http//www.epa.gov/radon
1-800-SOS-RADON

• IAQ Info
• 1-800-438-4318 / 703-356-4020
• iaqinfo_at_aol.com

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Chronology

• Stanley Watras case (1984)
• EPA Proficiency Program (1985-1998)
• Citizens Guide (1986, 1992 - 4th Edition)
• Radon Reduction Methods (1986)
• BEIR IV (NRC/NAS, 1988)
• Regional Radon Training Centers (1989)
• Radon Potential Map (1993)
• State Indoor Radon Grant Program (SIRG, 1990)
• Consumers Guide Radon Reduction (1992)

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Chronology

• Radon New Construction Standard (1991)
• Technical Support Document (TSD, 1992)
• Measurement Device Protocols (1992)
• Radon Mitigation Standards (1992)
• Home Buyers Sellers Guide (1993)
• Protocols for Measurements in Homes (1993)
• BEIR VI (NRC/NAS, 1999)
• Mitigation System Inspection Checklist (2000)
• Assessment of Risks From Radon in Homes (2003)