The following information was compiled following a recent interview with Jim Faust, Program Manager of the Idaho Indoor Environment Program. Mr. Faust explained his program's commitment to spreading radon awareness and encouraging radon testing and mitigation throughout Idaho.
Idaho’s Indoor Environment Program (IEP) actively raises radon awareness in communities throughout the state. The program informs residents about radon issues that pertain to their respective geographic areas, and provides residents with information on radon testing and mitigation to prevent lung cancer. The program also refers residents to suppliers who offer reduced rates on radon testing to address health concerns and serves as a resource in real estate transactions.
Throughout the year, this busy program conducts outreach at public meetings, provides radon awareness information to newspapers, and gets the word out through television interviews.
During Radon Action Month in January, program representatives sent postcard mailings to all homeowners in nine Idaho counties. The postcard mailing included a picture of the geographic area and facts about radon awareness, and offered inexpensive radon testing services. The Idaho IEP has been conducting its direct mail postcard campaign for four years, and the program gets very good response, with many recipients ordering radon tests kits.
In the last two weeks of April alone, Jim Faust, Program Manager, has been contacted about 7 on-going mitigations of radon levels ranging from 55 pCi/l to 3.7 pCi/l.
Program staff also make presentations at local realtor associations meetings as an ongoing means of spreading radon awareness. As Mr. Faust says, “Radon should never be a deal breaker.” To ensure that this is so, Mr. Faust works with buyers, sellers, realtors and radon mitigators to see that radon issues are addressed to everyone’s satisfaction and protect health.
In some areas of the state, as much as 70-80% of the homes tested for radon, tested high; in Boise, approximately 20% tested high. The highest home radon measurements in the state can top 1000 pCi/l.
Based on over 15 years of data collection, Mr. Faust has developed zip code maps that help residents visualize radon issues in their areas and better understand the when to test and mitigate. The map serves as a helpful explanatory tool in underscoring the need to protect against the preventable risk.
For more information on the Idaho Indoor Environment Program (IEP), visit the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website: http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/EnvironmentalHealth/IndoorEnvironment/tabid/181/default.aspx
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