The Decatur Daily on radon reduction

Printed: September 28, 2002; The Anniston Star

Decatur can be proud of leading the way in being the first city in Alabama to require radon-reduction systems in new homes.

A statewide meeting of health officials and extension agents in Birmingham on Tuesday included high praise for Decatur and dicussions on how other cities could pattern Decatur's actions.

The city is in an area labeled "Zone 1" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meaning that the radon threat in this area is in the highest category in the nation.

As of June 30, almost 1,000 Decatur residents tested their homes for radon with kits from the county extension service with more than 16 percent coming back with levels exceeding EPA standards.

A major part of the credit for getting the radon reduction requirement passed goes to local oncologist Lane Price, who kept up pressure on city officials with information on how destructive this naturally ocurring, invisible, odorless gas can be.

As someone who sees the ravages of cancer daily, Dr. Price, director of the Decatur General Oncology Center, was in a position to lend credence to the argument for these safeguards. She has to overcome officials' ambivalence to getting the code requirement adopted.

But finally, the City Council listened. The next big challenge is in educating the general public. With a population of 56,000, the 1,000 homes already tested barely scratches the surface.