Kansas Radon


KDHE – Kansas Radon Program
Tele:    785-296-1560 (KDHE - certification)
Tele:   1-800-693-5343 (for general radon inquiries)
E-mail:    radon@kdheks.gov

 

Helpful Radon Documents
List of Kansas-Certified Radon Measurement and Mitigation Technicians | Application for Certification | Certifed Laboratories

 

RADON CAUSES LUNG CANCER:

Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless invisible radioactive gas that can emanate from soil and become a health hazard when it builds up to higher concentrations in our homes, schools, and offices. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and the first leading cause of lung cancer in Kansas Radonpeople who have never smoked.   More than 200 lung cancer deaths per year in Kansas may be linked to indoor radon. EPA estimates that indoor radon contributes to 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. Exposure causes no immediate symptoms, and often goes unrecognized until serious health complications arise.

The action level for radon has been set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 4.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/l). About one out of every three radon measurements performed in Kansas are above the action level.  Elevated levels of radon have been detected in every county in the state.

KDHE recommends that all citizens of Kansas test their homes for radon, and if the levels are above 4.0 pCi/l, the homes should be fixed. KDHE also recommends that all citizens who are building new homes in Kansas incorporate Radon Resistant New Construction building techniques into the home.

 

 

KANSAS RADON LAWS:

Local Building Codes:

In Kansas, the cities of Topeka, Manhattan, and Lawrence have building codes which require new homes to be built using radon-resistant techniques.   The recommended building code for adoption by local governments in Kansas is Appendix F “Radon Control Methods” to the International Residential Code (.pdf). 

Main Components of a Radon Resistant New Home

 

Real Estate Transactions:

During the 2008 legislative session, a law was passed (HB2772) which requires information about radon and a recommendation to test for radon be provided to all homebuyers on their residential real estate contract:

K.S.A. 58-3078a.
Same; information regarding radon.  On and after July 1, 2009, each contract for the sale ofresidential real property shall contain the following language:
     "Every buyer of residential real property is notified that theproperty may present exposure to dangerous concentrations of indoor radon gas that may place occupants at risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer. Radon, a class-A human carcinogen, isthe leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the secondleading cause overall. Kansas law requires sellers to disclose anyinformation known to the seller that shows elevated concentrationsof radon gas in residential real property. The Kansas department ofhealth and environment recommends all home-buyers have an indoor radon test performed prior to purchasing or taking occupancy  of residential real property. All testing for radon should be conducted by a radon measurement technician. Elevated radon concentrations can be easily reduced by a radon mitigation technician. For additional information go to www.kansasradonprogram.org."


 Radon Home Buyer Guide
EPA Home Buyers &
Sellers Guide (.pdf)

 

Certification of contractors providing radon measurement, mitigation, or laboratory services:

During the 2010 legislative session, the Kansas Radon Certification Law was passed.   This law goes into effect on July 1, 2011 and requires that all persons performing radon testing or mitigation in the state be certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Listed below is the statute and regulations which govern the Kansas Radon Certification Law:

K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 48-16a01 through 48-16a12 |

K.A.R. 28-35-600 through 28-35-608

Instructions:

An individual or laboratory wishing to be certified by the state of Kansas should download the application form attached below, and submit the completed form along with documentation of required training and examinations, and the required fee, to:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Health
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330
Topeka, KS    66612-1365
Attn:   Radon Program

Application Form for Kansas Certification

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Health
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330
Topeka, KS    66612-1365
Attn:   Radon Program

 

 

Fees:

The fees for certification as listed in the Kansas radon regulations are as follows:

(1) Radon measurement technician:

                (A) Initial certification……………………….…………..……………………..$100.00

                (B) Renewal certification……………………….…………..…………………$100.00

(2) Radon mitigation technician:

                (A) Initial certification……………………….…………..……………………..$100.00

                (B) Renewal certification…………………….……………..…………………$100.00

(3) Radon measurement laboratory:

                (A) Initial certification……………………….…………..……………………..$250.00

                (B) Renewal certification………………….…………….…..………………...$250.00

 

Radon Protocols

 

Standards/Protocols:

Kansas Measurement Standards/Protocols
EPA 402-R-93-003 “Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes” |
EPA 402-R-92-004  “Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurement Device Protocols”

Kansas Mitigation Standards/Protocols
EPA 402-R-93-078  “Radon Mitigation Standards”

 

Training and Examinations:

Initial radon measurement training courses should have a minimum of 16 hours of classroom instruction.   Initial radon mitigation training courses should have a minimum of 24 hours that includes active participation in radon mitigation techniques.   Classes meeting these requirements which have been approved by the National Radon Safety Board and/or the National Environmental Health Association will be approved by KDHE.   Other training classes will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Lists of Approved Training Courses:
http://www.radongas.org/entry_level.shtml |
http://www.nrsb.org/courses.asp            
| http://www.radongas.org/continuing_ed_courses.shtml 

For initial mitigation training which is completed using an approved ONLINE training course, a "hands-on" or "field" portion to the mitigation training is required to be provided by a mentor who is a certified Radon Mitigation Technician. If the field training is provided within Kansas, the mentor must be Kansas-certified. If the field training is provided out of state, the mentor must be certified by the NEHA or NRSB, or another Kansas-approved state. The form listed below is REQUIRED to be completed and submitted to KDHE as part of the initial application for certification as a radon mitigation technician, in conjunction with the documentation of the online training course and the successful passage of the NEHA or NRSB examination:

Mentor Checklist for Field-Based Radon Mitigation Training

Currently the examinations offered by the National Radon Safety Board and/or the National Environmental Health Association for radon measurement and mitigation are approved by KDHE.  Other examinations will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

 

Radon Data Submission to KDHE:

K.S.A. 48-16a10 requires the sharing of radon testing and mitigation data by contractors and laboratories with KDHE.     All information obtained from this process shall be considered confidential and not subject to disclosure under the open records act.   KDHE will utilize the data to conduct research studies.  However, no report or publication will include the names or addresses of individuals.

Any person who tests for radon in Kansas, analyzes radon testing devices used in Kansas, or performs radon mitigation in Kansas shall make a report of such testing, analysis, or mitigation to KDHE within 90 days.

Radon data can be submitted via U.S. Post or via E-mail:

Submit radon data to:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Health
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330
Topeka, KS   66612-1365
Attn:  Radon Program

Information to report:

Measurement

  1. Name of radon measurement technician
  2. Radon measurement technician Kansas certification ID number
  3. Name of radon measurement business (if different than radon measurement technician’s name)
  4. Address where radon measurement was made (street, city, zipcode)
  5. Approximate age of building
  6. Location within the building
  7. Starting date and ending date of radon measurement
  8. The type of equipment or test kit used for radon measurement
  9. If the measurement was performed pre-mitigation or post-mitigation
  10. Measurement result

Mitigation

  1. Name of radon mitigation technician
  2. Radon mitigation technician Kansas certification ID number
  3. Name of radon mitigation business (if different than radon mitigation technician’s name)
  4. Address where radon mitigation system was installed (street, city, zipcode)
  5. Approximate age of building
  6. Initial radon test results
  7. Date on which radon mitigation system was installed
  8. Follow-up radon test results

Laboratories

  1. Name of laboratory
  2. Laboratory Kansas certification ID number
  3. Address where radon measurement was made (street, city, zipcode)
  4. Starting date and ending date of radon measurement
  5. If the measurement was performed pre-mitigation or post-mitigation (if reported to lab)
  6. Measurement result

KDHE has provided an Excel Spreadsheet for download which is recommended to be used to submit the radon data. 

Radon Data Submission

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Health
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330
Topeka, KS    66612-1365
Attn:   Radon Program

 

 

Quality Assurance Plan (QAP):

All radon measurement technicians and laboratories are required to develop, operate by, and maintain a quality assurance plan.  Guidance on recommended contents of this QAP is provided below:

General Guidance:  Suggested Components of a Quality Assurance Plan |
EPA Radon Measurement Proficiency Program: Guidance on Quality Assurance

 

Lists of Kansas Certified Radon Measurement Technicians, Radon Mitigation Technicians, and Radon Laboratories:

The Kansas Radon Certification Law requires all persons performing radon testing or mitigation in the state, and all laboratories which perform laboratory analysis of radon test kits used in Kansas, to be certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.   The lists below include all Kansas-certified persons and laboratories.  It is a violation of Kansas law for persons or laboratories NOT certified to be performing these services in Kansas:

List of Kansas-Certified Radon Measurement and Mitigation Technicians |

List of Kansas-Certified Radon Laboratories

 

Radon Public Service Announcements

January is National Radon Action MonthThe Surgeon General has declared war on radon as a leading source of lung cancer. Please use the following media elements to help spread the word among Kansans:



:30 Second Radio Commercial (.mp3)
| :30 Second TV Commercial (.wmv)
| :60 Second TV Commercial (.wmv)
| Newspaper ad (.pdf)
| Magazine ad (.pdf)
| Radon Month Media Release

|

   Script (.pdf)
|    Script (.pdf)for Radon 30 Second TV Commercial Script
|    Script (.pdf)for Radon 60 Second TV Commercial Script

 

Kansas Radon Poster Contest

National Radon Poster Contest

Kansas State University National Radon Program Services (http://sosradon.org/poster-contest) organizes a poster contest for students each year.    KDHE Bureau of Environmental Health staff members judge the Kansas entries and select three posters as the state winners.   The top three posters in the state go on to represent Kansas in the National Poster Contest.

Poster Contest Flyer (.ppt)

The deadline for Kansas posters to be submitted this year is October 24, 2011. Posters should be submitted to:
KDHE – Bureau of Environmental Health
Kansas Radon Program
1000 SW Jackson Suite 330
Topeka, KS 66612
Attn: Kim Steves

The students who submitted the winning entries for Kansas in the 2010 contest are:

1st place: Loren Steves, age 11

1st place: Landyn Gentry, age 10

2nd place: Michelle Infante, age 12

2nd place: Loren Steves, age 11

3rd place: Katie McLaughlin, age 11

3rd place: Annie Simon, age 10

Additional Radon Information:




EPA Products for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements Device Radon Mitigation Standards