From interview with Steven Melia conducted by Margaret Henderson
Steven M. Melia, MSPH, of the Wyoming Department of Health’s Radon Program, has several outreach initiatives and some goals for getting homes tested for indoor radon that are making consistent and important achievements in reducing radon in Wyoming homes.
“In Wyoming, one in three homes is likely to have levels that exceed the EPA’s guidelines of 4pCi/L and testing is encouraged with a buy one – get one free test kit promotion that’s been in effect since 2008,” Mr. Melia reports. The department would like to distribute 1,500 per year and have at least 1,000 tests returned for analysis and is well on its way to meeting that goal this year, already having received 780 test results.
Over the 24 years of the program’s history, 36,000 tests results have been assembled into a database that is used to sort results by areas of the state and give an indication of the prevalence of radon issues in Wyoming. Using this data, the program has produced graphs and finds that in this order of occurrence, radon issues exist in these counties:
1. Lincoln
2. Sheridan
3. Converse
4. Crook
5. Fremont
6. Teton
The lowest radon levels are found in a southwestern county of the state where only 17% of homes tested high.
With a total population of 582,658, the program receives about 100 telephone inquiries during a quarter and from querying the mitigators, Mr. Melia notes that the number of mitigations done in 2013 was approximately 471.
Outreach initiatives focus on spreading information about radon, its health effects and on providing information on construction techniques that will address radon problems, along with training information.
Outreach Initiatives
BUILDING CONTRACTORS
Steven Melia partners with a workforce development instructor when he is making presentations to contractors, often as frequently as twice per month and with audiences ranging in numbers around 10 and up to a high of 33 at one session. Mr. Melia presents a one and one-half hour presentation with a 25-minute video on construction and also gives information about training courses they can pursue.
HOSPITALS
Another outreach technique involves the medical community. Mr. Melia contacts and visits hospitals to talk to medical staff and finds that some are very enthusiastic about addressing radon as a health issue. The Radon Program website has several articles and reports of studies that are informative to the public and medical community. Radon Medical Studies Documents are available at http://www.health.wyo.gov/phsd/radon/medicalstudies.html
SCHOOLS
Schools are another focus area of the Radon Program. Mr. Melia has contacted the 48 school districts in Wyoming, which have a combined total of 348 schools. He sends outreach information in the form of a survey and notes that now Wyoming’s Schools Facilities Commission has requirements for addressing radon in construction of new schools.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Public information is an important avenue for spreading the word about radon issues and the Radon Program uses public service announcements (running for 3 months this year) and an annual press release from the department.
Along with information through media outlets, the Radon Program’s website offers brochures and information on various aspects of radon awareness, health effects and training. A section for Brochure Downloads is provided at http://health.wyo.gov/phsd/radon/Radon_Brochure_Downloads.html
Additionally, there are links provided to scientific organizations and information specific to real estate agents and contractors.
Radon Resistant New Construction
Along with Mr. Melia’s outreach to construction contractors, and the requirements of the Schools Facilities Commission, local governments have taken steps to further reduce radon exposures by adopting codes that require radon resistant new construction (RRNC).
Of the 99 municipalities in Wyoming, 18 cities and one county have adopted Appendix F of the International Residential Building Code. The Radon Program’s website explains:
“Appendix F is part of the International Residential Building Code designed for the installation of passive radon mitigation systems in new homes. Adoption of Appendix F is at the discretion of local building code officials, and is highly encouraged by the EPA and by the Wyoming Radon Program. RRNC techniques are construction plans for building radon mitigations systems into new homes during construction of the home.”
As an indication of Wyoming’s growing success in planning for RRNC, Alpine, Burns, Star Valley Ranch, Buffalo, Diamondville, Glenrock, Green River, Guernsey, Jackson, Lusk, Meeteetse, Mills, Mountain View, Pine Haven, Saratoga, Wamsutter, Torrington, Worland and Teton County have adopted Appendix F.
For more information on the program and these initiatives, contact:
Steven M. Melia, MSPH
Wyoming Department of Health
Environmental and Occupational Health Program
6101 Yellowstone Rd., Suite 510
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: (307) 777-6015
Fax: (307) 777-5402
http://www.wyomingradon.org
http://www.health.wyo.gov/phsd/radon/index.html
United States