RADON

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the decay of uranium and is usually found in soils and rock.  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.  EPA estimates that nearly one in five schools in the US has at least one room (more than 73, 000 schoolrooms in all) with radon levels above 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), the level at which EPA recommends corrective action should be taken.  Radon can seep into school buildings through cracks or holes either in the concrete slab they are built on or in the basement walls and floors.  Radon may also be found in a school’s water supply. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless.  The only way to detect radon is to test for it.  All school buildings should be tested for radon.

When environmental site assessment is conducted at the proposed site of a new school, groundwater and soil may be found to contain radon.   Measures to control and prevent radon entry into the building through cracks, utility openings, or gaps in the foundation or basement walls may be necessary. Knowledge about the levels of radon at a site will influence both the design and construction of the building and the design and operation of the HVAC system to mitigate radon levels.

Summary Of CT LAW Dealing With Radon In Schools:

(CT General Statutes Section Nos. 10-220, 10-282 and 10-291)

For newer schools (constructed, extended, renovated or replaced after January 1, 2003):

Requires comprehensive inspections and evaluations by the local board of education, prior to January 1, 2008 and every five years thereafter, to detect environmental problems.  To be reviewed are HVAC and plumbing systems, radon levels, potential for exposure to microbial contaminants and chemical compounds, degree of pest infestation and pesticide usage, degree of moisture incursion, building cleanliness, building structural elements, use of space, presence of and plans for removal of hazardous substances and provision of IAQ maintenance training for staff.

• Requires that these inspection reports be made public at a Board of Education meeting.

For schools being constructed, extended or replaced:

• Requires the State Department of Education to deny approval of a school building project if the site is in an area of moderate or high radon potential, unless construction techniques mitigate radon levels.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question:  Do all rooms in a school need to be tested for radon?

Answer: Only occupied rooms on or below the ground level need to be tested for radon.

Question:  Can my school be tested for radon during summer vacation?

Answer: Schools must be tested in the winter months when school is in session.  Testing should be done during weekdays and with the HVAC system running normally.  All windows must be kept shut for 12 hours before and throughout the 48-hour testing period.

RELATED LINKS

 Connecticut Department of Public Health 

RADON PROGRAM School Testing Initiative

 
What is Radon? The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Surgeon General, and other national scientific organizations have concluded that radon is a human carcinogen and a serious environmental health problem. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium found in soil and rock. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of radon (4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or greater) increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. causing an estimated 14,000 deaths a year. Radon gas travels through the soil and enters buildings through cracks and other openings in the foundation. The only way to know if there is a high level of radon inside a building is to test for it.

Radon Research   Early concerns about indoor radon were directed at the home environment. However, research conducted by EPA indicates that school classrooms with high radon might also pose an environmental health problem for students and faculty. Research was initiated in 1988 with an investigation of radon in schools located in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 1989, EPA recommended that schools nationwide be tested for the presence of radon. The results of this nationwide survey indicated that nearly one in five U.S. schools have at least one ground contact room with short-term radon levels above 4 pCi/L; the level at which EPA suggests mitigation.

Connecticut’s Response to Radon   In 1990, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) initiated the School Testing Program (STP) for Connecticut schools. In collaboration with local health departments and school administrators, the program targeted schools located in high radon potential areas for testing. Radon testing was conducted using methods developed by the EPA. To date, 253 schools in 46 municipalities have been tested. According to Connecticut General Statute § 10-220(2), “prior to January 1, 2008, and every five years thereafter, every school building that is constructed, extended, renovated, or replaced on or after January 1, 2003 shall be inspected and evaluated for radon levels in air and water.”

For More Information For more information, technical guidance, or copies of publications such as Reducing Radon In Schools: A Team Approach and Radon Measurement In Schools, Revised Edition, please contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Radon Program: Phone: 860/509-7367 Fax: 860/509-7378 Website: www.dph.state.ct.us/BRS/Radon/radon_program.htm