Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — A bill to require the installation of passive radon mitigation systems in every home or duplex built in Iowa awaits the governor’s signature. Senator Scott Webster of Bettendorf is a homebuilder.
Contractors install a pipe in the foundation of the home to vent radon out of the home. The bill requires state and local building codes to be updated with this new requirement.
The bill requirement has passed the Iowa House in previous years, but this is the first time it’s cleared the Senate — and it got unanimous support. Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Excessive exposure to radon gas has been linked to stomach and skin cancers as well as lung cancer. According to the EPA, the entire state of Iowa is at high risk for radon inside homes and other buildings. A state law passed in 2022 requires every school building in Iowa to be tested for radon by July 1st of next year.
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