The Minnesota Radon Awareness
Act requires sellers to inform buyers whether their home has been tested for
radon and if so, what the levels are and whether the home has been mitigated
for radon.
Radon is the leading
environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the leading cause
of lung cancer among non-smokers. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are
attributed to radon each year in the U.S.
Fortunately, the risk is
largely preventable, by testing homes and fixing radon problems. About 2 in 5
Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas and state health officials
say every home should be tested.
Radon is an odorless,
colorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota
soils. It can enter into all kinds of homes through cracks or openings in walls
or foundations. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is
to test.
According to the new
disclosure law, sellers will need to provide three kinds of information to
buyers before signing a purchase agreement to sell or transfer residential
property:
A radon disclosure form that
includes a.) whether a radon test has occurred; b.) records of radon
concentrations; c.) a description of any radon concentrations, mitigation, or
remediation; and d.) information regarding the radon mitigation system.
A radon warning statement
outlining the health risks of radon, the potential for radon in Minnesota homes
and recommending testing.
A two-page publication
entitled "Radon in Real Estate Transactions" that provides more
details on radon topics.
Considering that there are
approximately 100,000 home sales per year in Minnesota, increasing radon
awareness during real estate transactions has the potential to increase radon
testing and mitigation of homes significantly, according to indoor air
specialists at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). "This law will
help improve the health and safety of Minnesotans by informing home buyers
about the harmful effects of radon gas at the point of sale," said Dan
Tranter, indoor air program supervisor for MDH. "This allows potential
buyers to be educated on radon and to request a radon test be performed on the
property in a similar manner as home inspections are requested and
conducted."
Experience in others states
has shown that once a buyer is aware of a radon problem, many will elect to
install a radon reduction system, Tranter said. In Illinois, the rate of homes
tested during real estate transactions increased 400 percent after the passage
of that state's radon awareness act. Currently, about 30 percent of home sales
in Illinois have a radon test conducted during the purchase process.
Radon tests can be
incorporated into a home inspection. The law does not require radon testing or
mitigation; only disclosure of whether testing or mitigation of the home has
been done.
Testing is easy, inexpensive
and only takes 3-5 days. The best time to test is during the heating seasons,
but testing can be done year-round. Test kits are available at city and county
health departments, many hardware stores, or directly from radon testing
laboratories. A list of participating health agencies and test kit vendors can
be found on the MDH website at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/rncontacts.html.
Tests should be done in the
lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. If your home's level is
at or above 4 piC/L, you should consider verification testing and having a
radon mitigation system installed. Anyone interested in mitigating his or her
home for radon should consult MDH's list of certified radon mitigation
contractors at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/mitigation.html.
January is National Radon
Action Month and Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed it Radon Action Month in
Minnesota. During the month of January, the Minnesota Department of Health
(MDH) is sponsoring radio ads in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota to encourage
people to test their homes. In addition, MDH has partnered with local public
health departments to make test kits available to local residents at low or no
cost.
For more information on radon testing and mitigation
visit http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/index.html
or call the Minnesota Department of Health Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or
1-800-798-9050. To see how radon has affected the lives of cancer patients and
their families visit www.CanSar.org.
