Radon is a silent killer that injures and kills tens of thousands of people every year, causing as many as 21,000 annual deaths of lung cancer in the United States alone. According to the EPA, Radon is a very common hazard, effecting as many as one out of three households in seven states. What’s more, in areas that have been tested, where one home is free of radon, a neighboring home may be affected. That means every home, workplace, and structure, where people spend time, must be tested.
A Colorado State Statute requires that all Schools be tested every 2-5 years depending on the results of radon levels.
School Radon Testing
Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of radon for a number of reasons. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that damages lung tissue when breathed in. Children tend to have weaker immune systems than adults. This is especially true of children under the age of 12 to 14. Second, children are more vulnerable to the effects of radiation exposure due to the fact that their bodies must devote a large amount of resources to growing and maturing.
According to a Colorado State Statute, schools must be tested every 2 years if elevated radon levels have been detected. Schools without a radon mitigation system must test every 5 years if the radon levels were below the EPA action level (4 pCi/L).
If radon is detected at elevated levels, we can advise the best mitigation remedy depending on if an HVAC implementation or de-pressurization system would be the best option.
Where the average family has an estimated one in three risk of radon exposure, the risk to school aged children is approximately five times greater.
School Radon Testing is Effective and Affordable
The good news is that radon testing is both reliable and accurate with a certified measurement professional. A short term radon test can be accomplished in 72 hours. Testing should be conducted during occupied hours and the tests can be placed in a manner that does not interfere with school activities.
Contact us today to learn more.
