A ‘ patchwork ’ system
A ‘ patchwork ’ system
Exposure varies from state to state , city to city and even house to house , the data show , but no region is free of radon . Since any building can be at risk for elevated levels , the only way to know is to test .
The ALA recommends radon reduction measures if testing shows interior radon levels at or above 2 pCi / L ( picoCuries per liter of air ), a common unit of measurement for the concentration of radioactivity in a gas . The EPA only recommends action beyond 4 pCi / L .
But states vary greatly in the level of testing required . And a lack of testing can lead to a false impression that radon isn ’ t present .
“ The map of radon policy in the U . S . is very patchwork ,” said Jane Malone , interim executive director and national policy director for The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists .
According to existing American Lung Association data , Illinois appears to be a higher risk state than Missouri . In Illinois , 34 % of radon test results were at or above the action level recommended by the EPA , ranking it at 34th among all states .
Comparatively , in Missouri , a state without any radon regulations , 31 % of tests signified radon risk , ranking the state at 32 .
But this is only among homes and buildings that have been tested . Public awareness about radon is sparse , evidenced by low testing rates and the patchwork of regulations across states . As a result , crucial , policy-determining and potentially life-saving information about radon is missing , experts say .
In reality , the CDC radon test data , which the ALA insights are based on , shows that just 1,619 buildings were tested in Missouri in 2021 .
Thanks to Linnertz ’ efforts , Illinois ’ radon regulations are much more robust .
After the death of her husband , Linnertz tested their home . The results revealed exposure levels four times as high as the level the EPA says a home becomes unsafe .