Landlords are not required to test for the gas in rental units, and they do not have to disclose previous test results to tenants. A 1993 law requires sellers to disclose previous test results to potential homebuyers, but there is no law that requires testing during a real estate transaction.
At the same time, a dozen states require radon testing in schools, and 13 require day care facilities to be tested. Ohio is not one of them.
Green told The Dispatch that the Council would look at ordinances in neighboring communities to see how they’ ve handled the threat of radon.
A few communities in Ohio, including Powell, Pickerington and Dublin, all require passive radon mitigation systems to be installed in newly constructed buildings and homes. Outside of Ohio, Montgomery County, Maryland, requires radon testing during the sale of homes, according to its health department.
“ This is really one of those silent killers. It’ s one of those things that you just might not even be aware of,” Green said.“ We want to craft legislation that’ s responsive.”
As the Council begins to look at legislative possibilities, Green said members are studying up more on the dangers of radon. They recently met with Dr. David Carbone, an oncologist at Ohio State University’ s James Cancer Hospital, whom The Dispatch interviewed on radon and who has spoken out repeatedly about the dangers of the gas.
The Council’ s move to prepare legislation is just the latest local development in response to“ Invisible Killer.”
Within a few days of the series publishing Nov. 20, the Ohio Department of Health received more than 3,500 requests for free radon test kits it offers to residents. The state Health Department briefly ran out of tests Nov. 23, a spokesperson told The Dispatch.
Since the series published, Gov. Mike DeWine has repeatedly asked schools to test for the gas, and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said he hopes to work with legislators on ways to potentially increase radon testing in schools. Groveport‐Madison schools announced it would test all of its buildings for radon following a high test result and The Dispatch’ s reporting.
The Dispatch is continuing its work on radon by launching a continuous radon monitor borrowing program with the Columbus Metropolitan Library. One monitor is available to borrow at each of the Library’ s 23 branches, and users can report their results back to The Dispatch by scanning a QR code on the device.
“ I feel like that really goes above and beyond the normal day‐to‐day reporting,” Green said of the Library partnership.
Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby @ dispatch. com. Find him on X at the handle @ MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ ReporterMaxFilby.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Council eying radon legislation after Dispatch reporting
Reporting by Max Filby, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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