For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 17, 2018
January is
National Radon Action Month
Councilmember Craig Rice Presents Proclamation to Promote Radon Awareness and Encourages Residents to Test Their Homes for Radon
Rockville, Md., Jan. 16, 2018−Today the Montgomery County Council recognized January 2018 as National Radon Action Month. Councilmember Craig Rice presented the proclamation to Stan Edwards, Chief of the Division of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and Susan Kornacki, Outreach Specialist from the County’s Department of Environmental Protection, to promote radon awareness and encourage County residents to test their homes for radon.
In October of 2016 Bill 31-15, Sale of Real Property Radon Test-Single-Family Home, went into effect, which required most single-family homes in the County to be tested for radon before being sold. Councilmember Rice and Councilmember Katz were the lead sponsors and Councilmembers Elrich and Hucker were co-sponsors. The law makes the County the first jurisdiction in the nation to require radon testing.
“Given that our County is situated in a high radon zone area, it is critical that we educate our residents about the dangers of radon and the necessity of everyone testing their homes to ensure their safety and well-being,” said Councilmember Rice.
Radon is an odorless, colorless, harmful gas that can cause cancer. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths a year.
Testing for radon is generally inexpensive and easily available. Tests can be bought online, and at retail and hardware stores. Short-term tests take two to 90 days and give you a snapshot of the radon levels in your home. Long-term tests take more than 90 days but are better indicators of the average radon levels in your home throughout the year. The best time to test for radon is during winter months when homes tend to be closed for warmth. The most common remediation measure for homes with radon is installing a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.
You can watch today’s proclamation at: https://youtu.be/JFs-a6VJs0U
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Release ID: 18-006