A National Awareness Campaign: Radon
Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that is produced by uranium in the soil and rocks. Radon seeps into the home through cracks in the foundation. Radon has serious side effects as it is the second cause of lung cancer, leading to 21,000 deaths per year. However, not many people know about radon or that their home could contain high levels.
For a national awareness campaign, I propose a partnership between real estate companies and public health departments to help increase the general public's knowledge of radon. For example, realtors could ensure radon tests are completed during home inspections. If high levels are found, the realtor should then advocate for certified radon remediation professionals to complete a thorough inspection. The solution to fix high levels of radon generally includes running pipes through the home that are connected to fans, which draw radon out of the home. Additionally, not every state requires that the results of radon tests be reported. Moving forward, all states should mandate radon test reporting so potential home owners are informed. Lastly, realtors generally maintain relationships with their clients, therefore, realtors should remind their clients when radon tests are due every several years. This way homeowners know the importance of testing and have a reliable source to remind them to do so.
Resources
http://www.consumerreports.org/radon/is-it-safe-to-buy-a-home-with-an-elevated-radon-level/
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ReplyDeleteHey Elena,
ReplyDeleteI too thought that real estate agencies would be a fantastic stakeholder for a radon awareness campaign. I like that you added public health agencies as a stakeholder too. This seems obvious, but I overlooked this as a source for stakeholders in a public awareness campaign.
Also, I agree with the policy change in which states are mandated to have radon test reports procured for potential home-buyers. This creates more accountability on the part of the cities and industries which are responsible for producing the radon which may get into the water supply of a home. Additionally, this policy would symbolize a government which is truly concerned for the health of the public.
I like the idea of partnership between real estate companies and public health departments to help increase the knowledge of radon. With this method, the people who would live that house could feel secure about the radon level. Also, I agree with you that all states should mandate radon test reporting. As you suggested lastly, it is important to remind people for radon test. It is easy to forget since it needs to be done every several years.
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