5020.1: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - Board 7

Abstract #5877

Demonstrating effectiveness of passive Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC)

Sharron E. LaFollette, PhD, Department of Health Sciences, Illinois State University, Campus Box 5220, Normal, IL 61790-5220, 309-438-2603, slafolle@ilstu.edu and Thomas Dickey, REHS, City of East Moline Health Department.

Fifty percent of homes tested for radon in Rock Island County Illinois have radon levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action guideline of 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Therefore the county is classified by EPA in radon Zone 1. Radon-resistant new construction strategies for new homes are recommended by the EPA in Zone 1 areas. One city in the county, East Moline, reduced the cost of building permits for contractors volunteering to build new homes incorporating modified passive radon-resistant new construction (RRNC). Forty-six of 124 new homes built with passive RRNC in the city were tested during this study. Only twenty-seven of the homes tested were below the 4 pCi/L action justifying the importance of testing the system to insure levels are below the action guideline. To provide additional support to an argument in favor of changing city building codes to require RRNC, twenty-three of the homes were also tested with the systems deactivated. After systems were deactivated 73 percent had radon levels above the action guideline. Four homes were sampled for bioaerosols to evaluate if passive RRNC might impact other indicators of poor indoor air quality. The results of the research will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: -Assess the need for Radon Resistant New Contruction strategies. -Reconize the importance of post-construction testing of homes built to RRNC criteria. -Develop local building codes to address radon reduction in new homes

Keywords: Indoor Environment, Risk Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA