AARST_Radon_Reporter_Q42025

THE RADON REPORTER | 37 POLICY News from Ohio: Investigative Reporting on Radon Reporters Max Filby, Danae King, and Samantha Henderson with the Columbus Dispatch researched radon risk and trends in Ohio and reported the facts through “ Invisible Killer , ” a series of articles published November 20 that portrayed the lack of effective action on, and awareness of, the problem. • “ In radon’s ground zero, leaders have failed to protect Ohioans from deadly gas for decades ” told the stories of several people who have experienced radon-induced lung cancer, including Patti Busch, who resided in Newark’s 43055 zip code, which per a 2025 Harvard University study has the highest concentration of radon in the US. • “ A killer in the classroom ” exposed the gross negligence of school districts that do not test for radon and therefore fail to protect children who attend, and teachers who work in, the schools under their care and control. – Although Ohio Department of Health advises school districts (SDs) to test every five years every five years as well as after renovations or when HVAC systems are replaced, most districts fail to regularly test. – The spokesperson for one SD indicated it had not conducted radon testing because its schools are well- ventilated. – Another SD’s spokesperson stated that they only investigate strange smells. – Yet another SD’s spokesperson said it only tests the school that has a basement. – Ohio legislators have failed to approve recent proposals to fund school testing. • “ Public housing authorities fail to test ” reported on the dismal record of landlords who fail to protect renters from radon in rental properties - – Local housing authorities (HA) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development do not require radon testing for public housing and Section 8 voucher units for radon – yet Ohio landlords are required by state law to maintain rental properties in “fit and habitable” and “safe and sanitary” condition. – While home sellers in Ohio must notify potential buyers of previous radon testing, the state fails to mandate that landlords notify tenants about past radon test results – and doesn’t offer protection to renters who want to break their lease due to unmitigated radon, as do Colorado and Illinois. – Although lack of funds is often an excuse for HA inaction on radon, one HA spent $5,000-6,000 per mitigation to hide a mitigation within a unit’s interior walls because the HA “doesn’t like” the appearance of a pipe and a fan attached to the outside wall of the building. Columbus Dispatch Editorial Board Recommendations In an editorial published December 1 st , Executive Editor Michael Shearer presented the board’s recommendations, which called for lawmakers “to address radon in the coming year and consider adopting common-sense laws to help protect Ohioans,” through - • Statewide requirements for radon testing for home sales, with - – Help for buyers who need mitigation systems, through tax exemption or grant - or – A mandate for sellers of homes with unsafe radon levels to have radon mitigation systems installed. • Mandatory testing and mitigation of schools. • Mandatory testing and mitigation of ground-level rental units in private and public housing. • Prompt analysis and release of radon test data by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). • Proactive citizen education by ODH. The editorial board also recommended that all school districts, landlords, and business owners have their buildings tested for radon, and have mitigation systems installed if needed.