Barnett?s radon bill headed for governor?s desk for signature

Sen. Jim Barnett (R-Emporia) announced today that legislation he introduced on Feb. 7, 2008, has passed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and will soon be presented to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for her signature.

Radon, a class-A human carcinogen, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause overall. Radon gas doesn?t discriminate: it is equally dangerous to all people, regardless of weight, sex, race, or age.

However, the very young, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk from the effects of radon.

By using conservative estimates, 200 Kansans die every year from radon-induced lung cancer. A majority of Kansas counties have potential high levels of radon exposure; a map showing counties with average radon levels in Kansas counties can be located at: www. radon.oznet.ksu.edu.

House Bill 2772 includes language that ?. . . every buyer is notified that the property may present exposure to dangerous concentrations of indoor radon gas that may place occupants at risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer.?

Under the bill, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment provides their web site: www.kansasradonprogram.org to assist Kansans in accessing information relating to radon, its dangers, and available mitigation strategies.

Sen. Barnett stated that ?radon-related deaths can be prevented.

?My hope is that once people understand this health risk and its dangers, they will test their homes for radon and correct any problems they find.

?This legislation will help increase radon gas awareness and will provide for disclosure and radon gas mitigation information to protect the health and well being of Kansans.?

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