The latest State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) reporting shows that states are turning dollars into highly effective, life-saving programs. From rewriting local building codes to launching sweeping school-testing initiatives, state radon programs are aggressively tackling the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
Here is a look at how several states are maximizing their grant funding to achieve measurable results across three critical focus areas.
1. Strengthening Policy and Professional Standards
States are using SIRG resources to tighten regulations on who can install mitigation systems and how new buildings are constructed.
● New Hampshire: Revised its state statutes to require anyone designing or installing airborne radon mitigation systems to be formally certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). This ensures homeowners are protected by qualified professionals.
● Local Building Codes: Cities and counties like Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Teton County, Wyoming, have successfully advanced the adoption of Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC) requirements at the local level.
2. Protecting Children via School and Daycare Testing
Children spend a massive portion of their developing years inside classrooms. Because radon is invisible and odorless, proactive testing programs funded by SIRG are essential for keeping educational spaces safe.
• Florida: 250+ schools and daycares were tested for radon. Provided targeted radon training to over 40 county health departments to build local expertise.
• Pennsylvania: 115 schools and daycares tested; 2 high-radon schools successfully mitigated. Partnered with local hospitals to give new parents a New Parent's Citizen's Guide to Radon and a free test kit.
3. Demystifying Real Estate Transactions
Buying a home is the most common time Americans think about radon. States are utilizing grants to train the real estate community so that testing becomes a seamless, non-adversarial part of buying a house.
● Kansas: Led a massive effort resulting in 9,100+ housing units tested and 1,900+ homes mitigated. To sustain this momentum, the state radon program actively provides free, targeted training to realtor groups on how to communicate radon hazards and navigate technical guidance during a sale.
The Blueprint for Success
These accomplishments prove that the SIRG program is doing exactly what it was designed to do: empowering states to create localized solutions to lower radon levels and save lives.
United States