Radon Exposure Concerns and Important Information for Renters

Tens of millions of individuals and families in the United States and Canada rent their home. For some, it’s a place to live for a short period of time, while others may rent the same home or apartment for years. 

Many of these tenants are under the assumption that landlords or property management companies are required to test their rental home for radon, but that is rarely the case.  In fact, except in a few places, there are no specific laws regarding radon disclosures to tenants. If a landlord happens to know there is a radon problem, they must address it to be able to provide a “habitable rental.” Unfortunately, many landlords have no idea if radon is an issue in their property.

Hoping to educate tenants about radon, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded A Radon Guide for Tenants back in 1996. The booklet was produced by the Environmental Law Institute and was designed to provide guidance for people who rent their apartment or house. The document states, “Because most indoor radon comes from naturally occurring radon in the soil, high indoor levels are more likely to exist below the third floor. This is why EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor. In some cases, high radon levels have been found at or above the third floor, due to radon movement through elevators or other air shafts in the building. If your apartment is at or above the third floor and you are concerned about this possibility, you could also decide to test for radon.” 

“According to the EPA, nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is believed to have an elevated radon level which is 4 pCi/L or more,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Many of these homes are rental properties. Even the U.S. Surgeon General has encouraged all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon since testing is the only way to know if a hazard exists in a home or building.” 

Helping tenants, property owners and landlords to identify radon exposure risks are the experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. Their indoor environmental professionals provide radon testing services and user-friendly test kits. EMSL has even sponsored an educational video about radon that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/zxqQZMOoYI0. Often overlooked, radon in water can also be an area of potential concern and can also be easily tested by collecting a sample with a special water vial and sending it to the lab for analysis. 

To learn more about testing for radon or other indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental, occupational, health and safety services, please visit www.EMSL.com or www.RadonTestingLab.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail