ALA Released Policy Backgrounder on Tracking Radon Data to Save Lives
The American Lung Association has just published Tracking Radon Data to Save Lives available on their website at “For Radon Advocates and Decisionmakers” section. The Lung Association thanks all those who contributed information and recommendations to improve this document and acknowledges that this overview is subject to revision as more data providers participate and as more information is gleaned from such data. In the meantime, advocates working to encourage the collection and sharing of radon data to save lives are welcome to use this document to encourage data repositories such as laboratories, states, and tribes to participate in the CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.
Radon Standards of Practice
In August, 2019 EPA issued guidance recommending that states and other recipients of State Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) reference the most current voluntary consensus-based standards (VCS) when implementing their radon programs. Citing or incorporating current radon VCS in state/tribal legislation, building codes, outreach, and other program elements is a best practice for SIRG recipients. AARST has collaborated with EPA and CRCPD to provide public access to these standards. AARST has already updated their standards webpage, granting public read-only access to all standards, with options to download and print copies available for purchase through ANSI. The use of VCS in radon programs across the country will help ensure public health protection by incorporating current science and technology. In April 2020, EPA issued updated guidance recommending that states and other recipients of SIRG reference the most current voluntary consensus-based standards (VCS) when implementing their radon programs. The updated guidance includes the latest new construction standards, but otherwise remains consistent with the previous version.
Rules of Professional Practice
Over 200 volunteers and stakeholders have developed and maintained 12 consensus ANSI National Radon standards with 3 more currently under development. These efforts have created new standards to address multi family housing, schools, large buildings, as well as other categories, and they have been adopted or recognized by states and some federal agencies as models and or standards or rules of professional practice.