In Florida, one in five homes tested had elevated radon levels and the Florida Cancer Plan 2020-2025 includes a goal to address radon exposure. A goal of the plan is to remove environmental carcinogens such as radon.
The 2020-25 Florida Cancer Plan, which includes 21 goals within eight sections addressing collaboration; data; prevention and risk reduction; screening and early detection; diagnosis and treatment; quality of life; survivorship and end of life care; childhood cancers; and research and technology development. Under “Prevention and Risk Reduction,” a specific goal for radon is included:
Goal 9: Reduce radon gas exposure in all Florida households, workplaces, and other buildings.
The Plan states that radon is an important and modifiable risk factor for cancer in Florida and defines objectives as well as suggested actions.
Objectives are:
• Objective 9.1: By 2025, increase the annual number of homes measured for radon from 16,940 to 25,420 homes (increase by 7% annually).
• Objective 9.2: By 2025, increase the annual number of homes mitigated for radon from 1,950 to 2,600 homes (increase by 5% annually).
• Objective 9.3: By 2025, increase the number of local jurisdictions that have adopted radon resistant construction standards from 8 to 13 jurisdictions (increase by 10% annually).
• Objective 9.4: By 2025, increase the number of Florida real estate transactions that include radon testing from 8,080 to 10,220 in five years (increase by 4% annually).
Strategies are:
• Educate the Florida public, real estate professionals, builders, and healthcare providers about radon as a modifiable risk factor for cancer, certified methods for measuring radon in homes and buildings, how to access locational radon sampling results in their communities, and certified methods of mitigating high radon levels.
• Incentive compliance for facility types, such as schools and assisted living facilities, in locations that require radon testing.
• Enact local construction ordinances that include radon-resistant language.
• Support the development and implementation of system changes that increasing the number of buildings tested for radon level and facilitating radon mitigation when radon levels exceed the EPA action level.
Recommended actions are addressed as “What you can do to help.”
• Individuals are encouraged to test for radon level in your home. If your radon level is too high, then contact a contractor to reduce radon from your home.
• Florida’s elected officials are encouraged to Enact local construction ordinances that include radon-resistant language.
For more information, see the plan at
https://www.ccrab.org/_cache/files/9/3/936c3ad4-2efa-4390-bbca-402cbf53fe57/FC898E26BBC86230E000324…
United States