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Best Practices and New Developments Around Radon and Mold

Best Practices and New Developments Around Radon and Mold. Dan Tranter, MPH Minnesota Department of Health. 10/1/13. Alliance for Healthy Homes Convening. Radon Basics. A widespread lung carcinogen. Radon Key Facts. A colorless, tasteless, odorless gas From uranium in soil

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Best Practices and New Developments Around Radon and Mold

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  1. Best Practices and New Developments Around Radon and Mold Dan Tranter, MPH Minnesota Department of Health 10/1/13 Alliance for Healthy Homes Convening

  2. Radon Basics A widespread lung carcinogen

  3. Radon Key Facts • A colorless, tasteless, odorless gas • From uranium in soil • Cancer-causing • Radioactive • Leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers

  4. Health Effects Of Radon • Second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States • Estimated to cause 21,000 deaths annually* • MN 700-1,000 • Second only to smoking • Leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers * EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (June 2003, EPA -402-R-03 -0003)

  5. What Level of Radon is Considered Safe? • There is no known safe level of radon exposure • World Health Organization (WHO) • 2.7 pCi/L health based standard • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • 4 pCi/L ‘action level’ based on 1980s mitigation technology • Minnesota Department of Health • 2 pCi/L (mitigators usually reduce to < 2)

  6. Radon in Minnesota MDH EPA

  7. Radon Awareness Act New law, effective 1/1/14, that will inform home buyers and sellers

  8. Why Real Estate?CommonQuestions • I never heard about radon…Why? • Why did I not hear about this when I bought my home? • Why didn’t my realtor tell me about radon? • Why isn’t the government doing more to ensure we know about this hazard?

  9. Background • Radon not regulated in MN • Except new construction since 2009 • General disclosure requirements in real estate (MS 513.55) inadequate • Discourages seller from testing • have to disclose if high • Misleading to buyer • can check off ‘no radon environmental concern’ if never tested • Do real estate professionals educate their clients?

  10. Radon Awareness Act • Applies to most residential real estate • Buyers and sellers given information • MDH radon publication • Radon Warning Statement • Seller Discloses: • whether radon levels known (i.e., no testing) • history of testing/mitigation • records of testing/mitigation • Does not apply to renting • Effective 1/1/14

  11. Radon Warning Statement The Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommends that ALL homebuyers have an indoor radon test performed prior to purchase or taking occupancy, and recommends having the radon levels mitigated if elevated radon concentrations are found. Elevated radon concentrations can easily be reduced by a qualified, certified, or licensed, if applicable, radon mitigator. Every buyer of any interest in residential real property is notified that the property may present exposure to dangerous levels of indoor radon gas that may place the occupants at risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer. Radon, a Class A human carcinogen, is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause overall. The seller of any interest in residential real property is required to provide the buyer with any information on radon test results of the dwelling.

  12. Impact • Increased awareness  increased testing radon reduction  lung cancer reduction • In Illinois, 3 – 4 x increase in radon testing during real estate transactions • About 100,000 MN residential real estate transactions per year

  13. Looking Forward • Real Estate Publication • Model disclosure forms • New website • Educate real estate professionals • Recruit radon professionals • Provide materials to all interested parties

  14. Partnerships & Outreach Education and Outreach at the Community Level

  15. Partnerships • Local Agencies • 44 Counties • Non-profits • housing, health, etc. • Contractors: technical assistance • 1-2 per month • Builders: • Gold Standard for Radon

  16. MDH Offers Test Kits to Partners • Free • Short test (2-7 days) • Long test (3+ months) • Contact me • Recommend selling • Revenue • Greater kit usage

  17. Suggestions regarding test kits • Provide public booklet with test kits • MDH cannot guarantee test kits available at all times • When test kits run out provide test kit order form (retail: $8/kit) • Test kits available at $4 per kit to govt (State’s Master Contract CPV List-MN Dept Admin) • Track your test kits (usage, results)

  18. Radon Resources See our website: www.health.state.mn.us/radon

  19. Gold Standard for RRNC • MN code requires passive radon resistance feature • But...20% of new homes > 4pCi/L action level • Gold Standard Builders offer fan to customers • 95 builders • Builders provided: • marketing • training • test kits • brochures • point for Green Path

  20. Radon Contractor Listings • Two types: • Radon Measurement Professionals • Radon Mitigation Professionals • Certified by: • National Radon Proficiency Program • National Radon Safety Board • Training provided through Midwest Universities Radon Consortium • St. Paul Dec 2-7, 2013 • Contractors NOT licensed by state for radon

  21. Radon Data for your Community • MDH has maps • Star Tribune data portal by zip code • http://www.startribune.com/local/190270511.html

  22. Upcoming Outreach Activities • Press releases • W. MN Town Hall Meetings (?) • Radio PSAs • Nov: KS95, KDWB, K102 • Jan: WCCO (?) • Test kit distribution • Health & Home Shows • New construction ads • Quarterly Radon Meetings • Sign up to receive radon email updates through our website: www.health.state.mn.us/radon

  23. Radon Trends

  24. Monthly Calls/Emails (12/11 – 6/13) • Starts earlier, sustained

  25. MDH Web Hits

  26. Air Chek Kits Analyzed

  27. Quarterly Mitigations

  28. Mold in Homes

  29. Mold Basics A common health concerns

  30. MDH Perspective on Mold • All molds may cause health problems. • Mold growth should NOT be tolerated in occupied indoor areas • Moisture is the key to preventing mold. • Inspect, don’t test (usually) • Cleaning is based on amount of growth and material it’s on

  31. What is Mold? • Natural (fungus) • Mold spores (seeds) are everywhere • Mold growth is the problem: • Odors • Unsightly • Destroying building • Health

  32. For Mold Growth To Occur: • Spores • Air • Moderate temperatures • Food source (organic matter) • Moisture

  33. Health: Mold Allergies • 5% of people • Asthma • Hay fever • Rashes • Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (rare) • Very high levels (silos) • Cleaning large amounts, frequently Photo Courtesy AAAAI

  34. Health: Mold Infections • Serious infections very rare in healthy people • Source: Usually Bird or Bat droppings • Possible if weakened immune system • HIV+ • Uncontrolled diabetes • Medication for cancer or transplant

  35. Health: Toxic Effects • May be possible, but not well understood • Controversial • Many molds produce toxins • Not likely to be enough toxins in air • Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (rare) • Need very heavy levels (cloud of spores, such agriculture)

  36. Other Indoor Air Contaminants Cause Similar Symptoms Moisture Related Cockroaches Bacteria Dust Mites Not Moisture Related Smoke, Pets, Chemicals, etc

  37. Addressing Moisture Flooding, Condensation, Leaks

  38. Flooding:Over-land Rushford August 2007

  39. Flooding:Over-land Cleaned by hosing down Sheetrock very moldy on back side

  40. Flooding:Plumbing burst

  41. Condensation:Humidity Exhaust fans present, working? Dryer ducted outside?

  42. Condensation:Humidity • Poor air circulation • Cold surfaces • Moisture sources • Humidifiers, many plants, aquarium • Keep winter humidity at 20-30%

  43. Leaks:Roof--Ice Dams

  44. Leaks:Windows/Heavy Rain

  45. Leaks:Plumbing

  46. Leaks:Basement & Crawlspace

  47. Remediation Safely and thoroughly remove growth

  48. Don’t Clean Mold if You Have a Known Health Problem • Talk to your doctor • Examples: • Severely weakened immune system • Uncontrolled asthma or known severe asthma sensitivity to mold • Diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis • Common-sense • If you had severe reaction in a known moldy place

  49. MDH does not Recommend Mold Testing in Most Cases • Expensive, when done right • Usually unnecessary: • Mold visible/known, or • Moisture problem known, so mold can be found • No health standard • Mold is naturally present in environment • Individual susceptibility varies a lot • Testing may miss problem • Levels can vary by time, location • Different testing methods

  50. Identify and Map Dampness Moisture Meters Infrared Camera

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