NCHH’s Radon Research to Action
by Jonathan Wilson and Laura Fudala
As January, National Radon Action Month, comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to underscore that radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, and the cause of more than 20,000 deaths annually. NCHH continues to be an active leader in radon research, working to strengthen the evidence base for interventions that reduce exposure, identify and highlight stronger radon protections for rental housing, and support communities exploring potential funding sources to address radon concerns in their local housing stock. This blog takes a closer look at one specific example of how NCHH’s research translates into ongoing policy action, making a lasting difference and improving lives.
In 2017, the New York State Department of Health, in partnership with NCHH and consultants with the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (now known as the Indoor Environments Association), initiated a study to determine the minimum number of measurements to adequately assess radon risk for residents of multifamily housing.
Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. At the time, there was no consensus on whether testing 10%, 25%, or 100% of ground-floor apartments was sufficient to determine whether multifamily housing needed to receive radon mitigation. The study involved gathering test results from 7,892 ground-floor apartments in 687 multifamily buildings across 29 states in the U.S. NCHH researchers served as co-principal investigators in the study, led the statistical analyses, and co-wrote the final report and peer-reviewed manuscript.
The study found that testing only 10% of ground-floor apartments failed to identify between 47% and 69% of hazardous units. Testing 25% of ground-floor apartments failed to identify between 32% and 46% of hazardous units. To achieve 95% confidence that no apartments in a building with 5-20 units have radon levels above the U.S. EPA radon hazard level, 100% sampling is required.
The three-year study was funded by HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. Over the course of the study, the research team shared interim results with the HUD project officers. Midway through the study, it became apparent that HUD’s testing procedures for radon in multifamily housing were insufficient. The project officers invited the researchers to share their findings with the HUD Office of Multifamily Housing, which was in the process of revising its Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide. The document specifies the standards, including radon testing requirements, for multifamily properties to qualify for HUD-Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgages.
In 2020, as the peer-reviewed study findings were being prepared for publication, HUD released its revised MAP Guide, which included a 100% ground-floor testing requirement for radon. The research of NCHH and its collaborators had an immediate impact on federal policy and public health. Residents in recently FHA-insured multifamily housing are safer today because of this research and evidence-based advocacy.
NCHH has also used the research to push for further change. HUD’s Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) establishes standards for housing finance organizations such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. At a July 2021 listening session, NCHH testified that the FHFA standards should be enhanced to align with the FHA radon standards. Multifamily owners seeking mortgages from these enterprises should have to adhere to that same 100% testing requirement. On the same day, NCHH delivered a similar message in Senate testimony. Although FHFA has not yet adopted revised standards, NCHH has provided comments advocating for measures to better protect tenants as recently as February 2023.
If you’re working to reduce radon risks or advancing efforts to improve indoor air quality, NCHH can help! NCHH is collaborating with EPA to operate as a central knowledge base and provide flexible coaching and support to communities in taking systems-level action to reduce indoor air risks. Contact us at askanexpert@nchh.org for additional details.
Jonathan Wilson, MPP, joined NCHH in 1993 and serves as its deputy director. Mr. Wilson has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed research manuscripts evaluating assessment tools and interventions for healthy housing hazards. He also served as the NCHH representative to the federal Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention from 2004 to 2010. He came to NCHH with a background in nonprofit housing development and a Master of Public Policy degree.
Laura Fudala, project manager, joined NCHH in January 2014 as a project coordinator to provide a wide variety of coordination, research, writing, and support functions on multiple NCHH projects. She currently manages a New York State Department of Health contract and an EPA cooperative agreement that together provide coordination, evaluation, technical, training, and/or programmatic support for healthy homes stakeholders such as the New York State Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program and those working to support the launch and growth of large-scale, evidence-based, sustainable asthma home visiting programs.