Scientists and Investigators Cite Need for Radon Regulation to Prevent Lung Cancer- Call Current EPA Efforts In...( A growing ch...),Health

A growing chorus of experts, including scientists testifying before the President's Cancer Panel, investigators at the U.S. EPA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and leading health organizations are urging the EPA Administrator to use regulatory authorities authorized by Congress to protect citizens from lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 22, 2009 -- A growing chorus of experts, including scientists testifying before the President's Cancer Panel and investigators at the U.S. EPA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are urging the EPA Administrator to use regulatory authorities authorized by Congress to protect citizens from lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure.

According to the 2008 OIG report entitled, More Action Needed to Protect Public from Indoor Radon Risks, efforts to reduce radon exposure through mitigation or building with radon-resistant new construction have not kept pace. "Nearly two decades after the passage of the 1988 Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA), exposure to indoor radon continues to grow," states the report. "Given the Agency's limited progress from its voluntary approach for the past 19 years, it is time for the Agency to consider other means…EPA should assess how it can use the authorities granted in law to achieve long-term IRAA goals or identify alternatives for achieving the desired results."

In presentations to the President's Cancer Panel (PCP) last month, leading scientists and public health officials echoed the OIG's recommendations.