Many Ohio Schools Don’t Check for Radon in a State Known for High Radon Levels

Recently, WKYC broadcast a report about radon levels in Ohio Schools.  Even though most of Ohio is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Zone 1 area, few schools perform radon testing.
 
A Zone 1 area is described as having the highest potential for a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L.  A small percentage of counties in Ohio that are not listed as a Zone 1 area have been listed under the EPA’s Zone 2 category.  Zone 2 predicts an average indoor radon screening level of between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
 
Even though children spend approximately 8 hours a day in the classroom, Ohio does not require radon testing in its schools.  According to the WKYC report, “The EPA estimates about 70,000 classrooms in the U.S. have radon levels at or above the action level of 4 pCi/L. But federal laws do not mandate radon testing in schools.”  
 
Radon is also a major concern in many other parts of the United States. It is a cancer causing radioactive gas that may be found in rock formations and groundwater beneath buildings or even in certain building materials. The gas typically moves up through the soil and penetrates buildings through cracks, sumps and other holes in the building slab or foundation.   
 
“According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year,” stated Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, a leading radon and indoor air quality (IAQ) test kit provider.  “Anytime you have people, especially children, in an indoor environment that has the potential for radon or other harmful pollutants for an extended period of time, the air should be tested.  IAQ Index offers an affordable way for people to take these samples themselves and have the results analyzed by an accredited laboratory.  It’s quick, accurate and provides peace of mind.”
 
Until the end of November, IAQ Index is offering a free radon test kit ($50 value) to anyone who purchases the IAQ Index Basic Kit at http://www.IAQIndex.com.
 
A video describing how the IAQ Index kits work can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/_Zzav8NbPcc 
 
To learn more about testing for radon or other indoor air quality contaminants, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail