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THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE RADON PROGRAM IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Andreas C. George and Nancy Bredhoff
Radon Testing Corporation of America
2 Hayes Street, Elmsford, New York, 10523, US.
Telephone: 914-345-3380 Fax No 914-345-8546
e-mail rtca1@aol.com or rtca97@worldnet.att.net

The indoor radon program in the US. started in the early 1970's in response to Congressional Hearings that recommended the initiation of radon measurements in certain parts of the united States where enhanced radon caused by contaminated uranium and radium tailings was suspect. In the mid 1970's, the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML),
conducted the first indoor radon survey in the New York City Metropolitan area. The two year study recommended that radon surveys should be expanded throughout the US. for better assessment of the
radiation exposure of the general public to radon and its decay products. In 1984, well documented findings of very high concentrations of radon in homes located on the Reading Prong in Pennsylvania
generated public interest in radon measurements and prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to initiate a program to address the newly discovered public health problem. In 1988, EPA
was assigned the task to implement the Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA), which established a long-term national goal to reduce indoor levels to those found outdoors. In the 1980's , DOE funded
many radon research projects on the health effects of environmental radon, instrument development and measurement quality. Unfortunately by the end of fiscal year 1998, DOE, the principal radon
research agency stopped funding radon projects.
The expanded role of EPA resulted in a very extensive voluntary program which was designed to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of measurement and mitigation methods; (2) establish regional radon
training centers and the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP); (3) assess the potential for radon contamination in schools; (4) develop radon resistant standards in new construction; and (5)
provide grants for State radon programs. As of September 30, 1998, EPA ceased operation of its NRPP, due to the agency's limited resources.
Today, radon testing is primarily conducted in real estate transactions, in family relocations, in schools, government buildings and private homes of concerned citizens. Radon mitigation has
accelerated to the point that by the year 2005 it is estimated that more than 700,000 homes will be mitigated at an average cost of $1,000 per home. Radon resistant techniques applied by architects and
builders are incorporated in about 200,000 homes per year.

Key words: radon, real estate, relocations, radon resistant, mitigation.