DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – A bill to require radon mitigation in new Iowa homes saw Senate approval Wednesday, a move that advocates for the legislation say is a good first step toward further safety measures in the future.
Members of the Iowa Senate unanimously voted to amend and pass House File 2297, which would require all newly constructed single- or two-family residences to have passive radon mitigation installed. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, would require local governments to adopt this new policy as well as the state building code commissioner.
Many home builders include radon mitigation in new home construction, Webster said, but adding this requirement in state and local code will ensure equal access to methods of keeping radon, a carcinogenic gas, at safe levels in Iowa homes.
“As we know, radon is a cause of lung cancer and (with) the cancer rates in Iowa, I think this is a step forward to help (in) making sure that we’re lowering those rates in Iowa,” Webster said. Lung, stomach and skin cancers have all been connected with radon exposure, according to the cancer report, and the gas is in second place for the leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. behind smoking. In Iowa, lung cancer is the third-most common cancer and causes a majority of cancer deaths in the state.
Cody Smith, director of climate initiatives in the Iowa Environmental Council, said this bill was one of the group’s priorities this session, alongside advocating for reinstated and increased funding for water quality monitoring. Other environmental factors studied in the report include forever chemicals, nitrates and other carcinogens, each of which there are practices to address, but Smith said there are “gaps in our regulations and policies” that seek to protect Iowans’ health from pollutants.
As the bill was amended, it will head back to the Iowa House for consideration before hitting Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk. Smith said the amendment “strengthened” the bill and anticipates the legislation will pass through the legislative process to become law due to its bipartisan support.
