By Margaret Henderson
In 1986, a statute was passed to establish a radon professionals’ certification and public health and education program about radon. Regulations were implemented in 1991 for radon testing and mitigation certification. Since that time, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Radon Section has operated a program covering a full spectrum: certification of radon professionals and businesses, creating a radon potential map based on test results, partnering with municipal officials and other state agencies to encourage radon testing through special projects, and providing outreach to the public and to science teachers.
With all the efforts of the past decades, and with approximately 5.9 million people living in moderate to high risk radon areas in New Jersey, Anita Kopera, Supervisor of the Radon Section notes that 2.1 million homes still need to be tested in these areas. While the maps showing radon potential in areas in New Jersey are helpful, she emphasizes that the only way to know about the radon concentration in your home it to test. (See the map at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rpp/radon/radonin.htm.)
When test results indicate levels in excess of the recommended EPA guidelines (4 pCi/L), and the homeowner has had mitigation performed, the Radon Section will send a free test kit to confirm the radon concentration is below 4 pCi/L. Success indicators are that from January 2000 through December 2014:
- 60% of the homes mitigated had radon levels reduced to 1 pCi/L or less; and
- 84% of the homes mitigated had radon levels reduced to 2 pCi/L or less
The activities of many of the Radon Section’s other efforts can be measured in numbers. For instance, during CalendarYear 2014:
- 1,717 calls to the radon information line were answered;
- 189 radon information packets were mailed;
- 51,976 standard radon tests were conducted (all building types; does not include post-mitigation tests);
- 3,767 mitigation systems were installed (all building types);
- 2,717 homes and 18 schools were built with Radon Resistant New Construction in Tier 1* municipalities as required by regulation (this includes new construction and additions to existing buildings); and
- 744 radon certification applications were approved for:
39 measurement specialists
23 mitigation specialists
644 measurement technicians
9 mitigation technicians
14 measurement businesses
15 mitigation businesses
For more information about the New Jersey Radon Section activities, contact:
Anita Kopera
Supervisor, Radon Section
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Mail Code 25-01
PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Phone: (609) 984-5543
Fax: (609) 984-5595
Anita.Kopera@dep.nj.gov
*Tier l is a designation for municipalities where more than 25 homes have been tested and of those tested, 25% exceed the 4 pCi/L concentration level.
United States