Omaha State Senator Bob Krist says Nebraska needs to get serious about the problem of radon in our homes
Omaha State Senator Bob Krist says Nebraska needs to get serious about the problem of radon in our homes. The odorless, colorless gas is the second-leading cause of cancer in Nebraskans, behind only tobacco. Krist has introduced a bill (LB 13) which would require all new home construction to be radon-resistant, starting on January 1st of 2015.
Sen. Bob Krist "residential construction"
Krist says Nebraska has the third-highest emission of radon gas in the country because of the concentration of uranium in the soil. The gas is created through decay of the element. A task force would be formed, under the measure, to map ideas on how to go forward.
A bill before state legislators would require all new homes built in Nebraska starting in 2015 to be radon-resistant. Radon contractors are licensed by the state. Curtis Drew is president and owner of National Radon Defense, an Omaha testing and mitigation firm that's been around for 35 years.
Curtis Drew, National Radon Defense "resistant to radon"
Drew says Minnesota has had radon-resistant construction for three years and Illinois just passed similar legislation. He says it's important to have specific standards for such construction. Radon is the number-two cancer killer in Nebraska behind only tobacco.
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(courtesy of Nebraska Radio Network)
