As radon testing requirements get more rigorous, Ron Melchior hired to scale AEI Consultants' radon division

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Jan. 26, 2022 - PRLog -- AEI Consultants, a leading environmental assessment and consulting firm serving commercial lenders and property owners, has hired Ron Melchior as director of radon services to expand AEI's testing capacity as radon testing requirements are anticipated to increase.

Melchior's hiring coincides with changing radon testing requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans and Radon Awareness Month (January). According to the EPA, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, accounting for 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas produced by the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe.

"As the awareness of the risk of radon increases, so are the testing standards. Housing lenders and many states are requiring more comprehensive testing, which is why we are expanding our capacity," said Karla King,  P.E., Esq., LEED AP and executive vice president of sustainability at AEI. "Ron's passion and knowledge of radon will help us to support clients as regulations and sampling requirements evolve, and more importantly to protect tenants from the risk of radon. We are fortunate to have someone of Ron's experience and leadership on the AEI team."

Melchior's career in environmental science includes over 14 years focused on industrial hygiene where he ran testing, assessing, and advising on hazardous building materials including asbestos, lead, mold, and radon for a wide range of property types from healthcare facilities to multifamily housing and various programs including HUD, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. He holds a bachelor of science in environmental science with a concentration in chemistry from Towson University.

Melchior will manage all aspects of radon services for every division within AEI and function as the company's subject matter expert on new and changing radon guidelines and regulations. Additionally, Melchoir will be responsible for an expanded team of in-house radon professionals as the real estate industry prepares for an increase in radon testing requirements.