‘ Regulation could change their industry ’
‘ Regulation could change their industry ’
Among the 20 states with radon-specific policies are several kinds of regulations . Outside Missouri , other states require licensure or certification for testing and mitigation . Some require testing , radon-resistant new construction or home-buying awareness programs .
In neighboring Illinois , the 2008 Radon Awareness Act mandated homebuyers be given information about radon , making it clearer and easier for buyers to test a house before purchasing and for sellers to track whether a test has been conducted .
Linnertz tried to advocate for a similar homebuyer awareness bill in Missouri – twice . But the bills never made it out of committee .
Malone said that lobbying from national home building associations , alongside soaring housing costs , inflation , mortgage rates and the shortage of affordable housing , make it harder for homebuyers to be vigilant about radon .
“ When you survey individual home builders and Realtors about their views , you get a very different story from what national lobbies tell legislators ,” she said . “ Their mission is to resist change , and radon regulation could change their industry .”
Alongside Lung Cancer Connection and the American Lung Association , the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists ’ Midwest Heartland Chapter initiated conversations this fall to push another kind of radon regulation in Missouri in the near future . Such legislation would require testing and mitigation professionals to complete a credentialing program .
AARST runs one of two private national proficiency programs in the country , alongside the National Radon Proficiency Program .
Conducting radon services as a professional does not require any certification in Missouri , which Malone said is a pandora ’ s box for unintentional errors at best and purposeful malpractice at worst .
“ Without any sort of checks and balances on professionals doing this work , it creates an open field for unqualified radon professionals to unknowingly or knowingly take advantage of people who aren ’ t informed ,” Laura Turner , who works for the American Lung Association and co-leads the Missouri Lung Cancer Coalition , said .