The Nation - News from July 9, 1987

The Senate passed legislation to authorize increased spending to combat life-threatening radon pollution in houses and schools. The bill, approved by voice vote and sent to the House, would authorize appropriations of $30 million over three years to help states establish programs to monitor radon problems. It also would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to spend $1.5 million to deal with radon in schools. Radon is an odorless radioactive gas that results naturally from the decay of uranium. The EPA has estimated that radon may be a threat in one of eight houses and may cause 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year.