Green Scene Transcript - Elizabeth Cotsworth 


[This is a transcript of Judy Pino sitting at a table talking with Elizabeth Cotsworth. This is a steady image and does not include other visual content or scenes.]

Judy Pino: Hello, and welcome to Green Scene, EPA's environmental information podcast that you can take with you. I'm Judy Pino with EPA's Office of Multimedia. EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month to increase the public awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction practices. And to talk to us about that is Elizabeth Cotsworth. She is director of the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. Welcome to the Green Scene, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Thank you. I'm delighted to be here, Judy.

Judy Pino: Thank you. Well, what is radon, and, honestly, why should we care?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Well, radon is a radioactive gas. It is released from the decay of uranium in the soils and the rocks and the water. And it's released into the air, and then it's not such a problem. But it can also seep into homes and buildings, and there it can accumulate and build up to high hazardous levels, hazardous because radon is a cancer-causing substance. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today, over 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year due to radon.

Judy Pino: That's truly amazing. Yes, according to the National Academy of Sciences, that's exactly right. And the U.S. surgeon general also warns that all homes should be tested for radon. What makes radon a challenging risk, though?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Well, radon is tasteless, colorless, odorless, so you can't really tell that it's there, and that gives people a false sense of comfort. They can have radon levels that are increasing in their homes that they're not aware of. And there are no early warning signs in terms of your health, so that makes it a particular challenge. And it can be in any home, regardless of how it's built or where it's located.

Judy Pino: Now, why is January designated the month to test for radon?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: January is ideal because, as a winter month, homes are closed up. They're buttoned up, so there isn't a lot of air flow into the house or out of the house. So, radon levels can readily be detected in January. It's also a time when everybody is in their homes, so the exposure to radon is higher. And because there is less air flow through the house in January, it's actually a good time to make tests work well.

Judy Pino: Okay, now, according to the EPA, one in every 15 homes in the U.S. has elevated radon levels. That's about six million homes.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Mm-hmm.

Judy Pino: Still, the only way to know if you have radon is to test it with kits such as the ones that we have here today. Let's talk a little bit about how these function.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Yeah, there's a wide variety of test kits that are on the market. They're easy to get from do-it-yourself stores, hardware stores, even online. They're also very inexpensive; most are well under $25. And during the month of January, again, many of our partner organizations and states offer radon test kits for free or provide a money-off coupon.

Judy Pino: That's fantastic.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: And they're very easy to operate, these tests.

Judy Pino: Okay, so the one that you have there is a canister-looking thing.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: That's right.

Judy Pino: And how does it function? It's got --

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Okay, when I take off the lid of the canister, there is a medium, and it's the same in most of the kits but just a little bit differently configured, and that absorbs the radon. You expose it for a few days. Each kit is a little bit different in terms of the time period. And then you close it up, following the instructions. They're, again, very simple and very easy, but do follow the instructions. Fill out the information. In this case, the label is right on the top of the canister. Mail it back, and you will get your results, often, in a few days and even online sometimes now.

Judy Pino: And what happens if it turns out I do have radon in my home?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Okay.

Judy Pino: Then what?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: The number to be concerned about is four. If you have a test kit that comes back with information that the radon level is at about four, we actually suggest that you test one more time, and then, if it continues to be around four, that is the point at which we urge you to take action to fix the radon in your home. We suggest that you engage a certified professional, someone who could provide quality fixing services, and many of those state Web sites will give you information on who to contact for those kinds of services.

Judy Pino: So, it is preventable. Now, the main issue is that there is no federal mandate or regulation on it. So, what's EPA's role in helping people figure out what to do with this?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Well, we provide information, education, and outreach to encourage voluntary action by homeowners, by consumers to both test and then to fix their homes. We rely on public service campaigns, hotlines, Web sites to get the message out to test, to fix, or to buy radon-resistant new construction in new homes.

Judy Pino: And all that information is on epa.gov. What about new homes? Does radon discriminate? Does it matter where you live, if it's an old home, if it's a new home?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: No, it doesn't, but it's far less expensive to deal with it as a preventive measure than to fix it if you have it later. And so radon-resistant new construction is -- is something that people should ask their builders about if they are in the market for a new home. Insist on it as a healthy home.

Judy Pino: So you could talk to your builder or you could talk to your real estate agent during the real estate transaction to see --

Elizabeth Cotsworth: That's right. The real estate transaction is also another wonderful opportunity to think about a healthy home. And to sell a home, people should think about testing and fixing. And if you're a buyer of a home, ask about the radon levels and what's been done.

Judy Pino: What about if you're in a condo?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Well, it's still a concern, particularly if you are in a condominium that has a basement or a ground level. It's less of a concern if it's higher up, but renters need to ask their landlords also about radon.

Judy Pino: Exactly, so let's not forget the renters. So, how is the -- how are we doing on preventing this risk at home, Elizabeth? How are we doing?

Elizabeth Cotsworth: Well, we think we've saved about 6,000 lives over the past 20 years, and we're very proud of that. But still, that is a small number by contrast to the number who suffer and die each year from lung cancer due to radon. We won't be happy until every home is tested and every high level of radon is fixed in the United States.

Judy Pino: Well, it seems like we're doing good so far. But, again, it's not a mandate, so it's up each individual to go ahead and test their homes.

Elizabeth Cotsworth: That's right. That's right.

Judy Pino: Thanks for all the information, Elizabeth. I'm sure it was very helpful.

Elizabeth Cosworth: Thank you very much.

Judy Pino: Well, for more information, as you know, you can visit EPA's radon Web site, appearing on screen, for additional information, and you can also call 1-800-SOS-RADON, or that's 1-800-767-7236, and you can get yourself some of those coupons to get a discount on those radon kits. See you next time on the next Green Scene.