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Radon in Schools: Should Radon Testing Be Required?

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Radon is a dangerous gas because it can cause cancer and other respiratory diseases. The worst thing about it is it cannot be seen or touched, making it hard for people to identify whether it is present in a place. Not only that, but radon levels are higher indoors than outdoors. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that every building is radon free to avoid getting lung cancer. Parents, teachers, and other authorized persons need to ensure that there is no radon in schools. As such, radon testing should be required to guarantee the safety of the children.

Radon in the United States

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), radon is present everywhere in the United States. However, the level of this radioactive gas differs from state to state. Since radon is everywhere, there could be radon in schools, universities, and other academic places where your children go. NCSL also stated that radon is exceptionally high in Iowa and North Dakota. Suppose you are moving into another city or state, consider areas where there are low radon levels. You may check this radon map from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

In case that you need to live in places where there are high radon levels, you need to ensure that the house, whether it will be built from scratch or ready to live in, has zero radon. There are construction techniques and strategies that you can apply to make your home radon free. You may also check the state laws regarding radon both in homes and schools. Worry not because states have addressed the radon issues by creating legislation.

Radon in Schools

If you check the legislation, most are addressed for real estate and homes. What about radon in schools? Are there specific laws to address the issues of this harmful gas to schools and universities? Many people believe that radon testing should be required in schools. This way, proper precautionary measures will be conducted to decrease the radon levels, primarily if it is found out that a school has high radon levels. Parents would feel better knowing that their children are not exposed to this cancer-causing gas.

Review of the State Laws and Regulations Regarding Radon in Schools

A research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information website conducted a review regarding state laws and regulations. They examine the regulations and statutes of each US state related to radon in schools. They have used the following terms to identify the key features and assess if there are discrepancies among states:

  • Radon
  • School
  • Mitigation
  • Certification
  • Licensing
  • Radon-resistant new construction

The study found out that the state regulations related to testing, mitigation, and public dissemination of radon levels in schools are inconsistent. As a result, there is a lack of a national indoor radon policy for schools. This is alarming since it may result in unacceptably high radon exposure levels in schools. The study concluded the following:

Conclusion

  • Schools could be a dangerous place for kids, especially if there are high radon levels. Children go to school for years to complete their studies; increasing their radon exposure may lead to severe health conditions and worse, cancer.
  • Since there is currently no enforceable Federal limit for radon levels in schools, it led to disparate state regulations related to the testing, mitigation, and public dissemination of radon levels. Not only that but appropriate state funds when mitigation is also needed.
  • A federally mandated maximum radon limit should be established for schools and other buildings with public access. This is possible if states work with the USEPA to develop state-specific radon test plans. It is recommended that USEPA offers standardized online radon testing training courses and materials for school employees to reduce state costs. As such, it can improve the consistency, accuracy, and reproducibility of the test results.

The cost of radon testing and applying the construction techniques and hiring a licensed radon contractor are some of the challenges why radon testing is not required in schools. But the government should not overlook radon in schools knowing that kids spend years in these places to finish their studies. Even if there are no strict laws regarding radon in schools, the school authority and concerned parents can initiate the move to make each school radon free. This way, radon exposure will be prevented, and the risk of lung cancer will be decreased.

What Radon Level is Considered Safe?

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Radon is a cancer-causing gas. As more and more people become aware of this fact, many homeowners are getting their homes tested for this radioactive gas. Why? A radon test is a vital step in determining the radon level in the house. Since radon cannot be seen, specific methods should be done to identify whether it exists in the location or not. With radon testing, every homeowner can determine whether they need to decrease the radon level. But what level is considered safe?

Safe Level of Radon Gas

If you ask what the safe level of radon is, the answer would be zero. Meaning, the safest level is the level where there is no radon. Is it possible? Yes, especially if your home has a lower radon level since specific methods can be applied to reduce it to zero. If your home has zero radon gas level, it only means that you have the lowest risk of getting lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, unless you or someone in the family is a smoker.

Why is there a need to make an effort to reduce radon levels? It is because indoor exposure provides a higher dose of radon exposure to humans. Meaning, you will acquire more harmful particles when you are inside your home than you are outside. The level of radon you breathe depends on the geographic location of your house. This level could be as high as 0.75 pCi/L.

On the other hand, the national average for outside radon levels is 0.4 pCi/L. It is estimated that radon levels found outdoors have caused approximately 800 of the 21,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths in the U.S. every year. Know that your risk of lung cancer increases as you expose yourself to higher radon levels. If you are a smoker or someone in the family who smokes, the chance of acquiring lung cancer becomes higher due to the combined effect of smoking and radon.

Acceptable Level of Radon Gas

Some homeowners find it challenging to make their homes free from radon gas. That’s why the Radon Act 51 set the natural outdoor level for this radioactive gas. It means that although it is not the safest, this range is an acceptable radon level. The target for indoor radon levels is 0.4 pCi/L. If the radon level in your house exceeds the recommended level, it’s time to take corrective measures.

Radon is a harmful radioactive gas. Don’t let your loved ones be exposed to this cancer-causing gas. What can you do? Make sure to get your home tested for radon to determine the radon level. Identify whether the level is acceptable and safe for you and your family. If not, it’s time to call a radon contractor to apply the methods in reducing the radon level in your home. Remember that no matter how high the radon level is, it can be fixed as long as the right methods are used.

radon testing

Does Your State Require Radon Testing

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Are you planning to buy a house somewhere in the United States? Or are you moving to a different state? Whether you are considering building a new house or living in a ready-built home, it is essential to know that you have several things to consider, such as radon testing. Remember, radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that can be found on soil and water. If the house where you live is located in an area where there are high radon levels, you might put your health in danger. Besides, there are states that require radon testing for homes.

Why is Radon Testing Important?

Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it hard for people to know where it is. But what makes it dangerous is the particles created that can cause lung cancers and other respiratory diseases. This radioactive gas is present in the environment. But the problem is that radon levels become higher when it is present indoors. Therefore, there is a need for radon testing to ensure that every home and building is free from this cancer-causing gas.

Since radon is the second-leading cause of cancer in the United States, many states developed laws to ensure public safety. They have regulations that govern radon disclosure, radon certification, and radon mitigation. Some states also set mandatory radon testing provisions in homes and schools. This way, they can detect those places where there are high radon levels.

State Radon Laws

The states in the U.S. have different laws concerning radon. Some of these regions have developed mandatory laws, while others have implementations regarding radon disclosure. To familiarize yourself with the state radon laws, you may refer to the following guide prepared by Elizabeth Ann Geltman Glass, J.D., LLM, and Nichole LeClair.

  1. Thirty-seven states require disclosure during real estate transactions. Among these states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. These states require disclosure through specific laws/regulations or their Real Estate Commission/Board.
  2. Seven states do not have any radon disclosure form, whether through legislative means or the Association of Realtors. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
  3. Four states require tenant disclosure by the landlord. These states include are Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Maine.
  4. Twenty-five states have radon certification laws. Among these states are California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  5. Four states require testing in high priority buildings. These states are Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
  6. Nine states require testing in daycare centers. These states include Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
  7. Thirteen states require testing in schools. Among these states include Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  8. Eighteen states have radon mitigation laws. These states are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
  9. Eleven states require radon-resistant new construction. These are California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
  10. Twelve states require a public education program or radon awareness program. They are California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin
  11. Eleven states impose civil penalties for misrepresenting radon readings. These include California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
  12. Eleven states impose criminal penalties for misrepresenting radon readings. They are Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.
  13. Five states — Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Ohio — impose criminal and civil penalties for misrepresenting radon readings.

No matter where you are planning to live, it is crucial to know the radon state laws. Doing so can help you understand what to do before buying or relocating to the house. Not only can it help you take actions in decreasing radon levels at your new home. But it can also help you in avoiding penalties, especially from those states that require radon testing.