HOTLINES
HOTLINES
Where to find help
The Environmental Protection Agency supports several hotlines for consumers with radon-related questions and concerns:
*(800) SOS-RADON (767-7236). The National Safety Council's Radon Hotline has an informational recording 24 hours a day. Callers may order a brochure by leaving their name and address. The brochure has information on ordering a low-cost short-term test kit. The hot line offers publications such as the EPA's "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," "A Citizen's Guide to Radon," "Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction" and "A Radon Guide for Tenants." Web site: www.nsc.org/ehc/radon.htm
*(800) 55RADON (557-2366). The council also offers help from counselors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also write to airqual@nsc.org
*(800) 644-6999. The Consumer Federation of America offers a Radon Fix-It Program to help those whose houses test at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), or higher. Four pCi/L is EPA's recommended action level. The program operates 24 hours a day. Callers can get free materials, including a list of certified mitigation equipment providers in their area. Callers can leave a message for a counselor to call back. Web site: www.radonfixit.org
*(800) 438-4318 is the EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse. Callers can speak to an information specialist from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. After hours, you can leave a voice message, or fax questions to (703) 356-5386, e-mail to iaqinfo@aol.com or mail to IAQ INFO, P.O. Box 37133, Washington, D.C. 20013-7133.
*(800) SALUD-12 (725-8312) or (202) 387-5000. The National Hispanic Indoor Air Quality Helpline/National Alliance for Hispanic Health provides information in Spanish. This hotline provides radon test kits with bilingual test instructions, consumer follow-ups with bilingual explanation of test results and referrals to other sources if mitigation is recommended. www.hispanichealth.org
*The EPA also has more general information at www.epa.gov/radon, with separate sites for indoor air quality and radon in water.
Source: The Washington Post