Deadly gas could be lurking in Northeast Ohio classrooms: 19 Investigates
By Shannon Houser | April 30, 2019 at 10:46 PM EDT - Updated May 1 at 8:14 AM
CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - 19 News is investigating how a deadly gas could be lurking in our schools.
What is radon and how does it cause lung cancer?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, cancer-causing gas that kills more people each year than drunk drivers, according to researchers.
Many home buyers test for radon, but what about schools, where children are spending
a large chunk of their day? 19 News found a majority of districts in Northeast Ohio
aren’t testing and we wanted to know why.
Giving birth to her baby girl was the greatest moment of Bobbi Johnson's life. Hours later, one simple test will turn that moment from one life-changing experience to another.
“I was diagnosed six years ago when my daughter was born,” Johnson said.
Post-delivery CT scans identified advanced stage lung cancer. Johnson was told she likely wouldn’t live past her daughter’s fifth birthday.
“My prognosis then of advance stage lung cancer was about a 20% chance of making it
to my five-year mark,” said Johnson.
She was shocked, heartbroken, and confused.
“Gosh. I’ve never been a smoker, so why have I been diagnosed with lung cancer?” Johnson asked. Her doctors pointed to a cause she never imagined. “I knew nothing about radon gas, what it was,” she said.
Radon is a deadly invisible, radioactive gas. You can’t smell it or taste it.
That’s why advocates like Kevin Stewart with the American Lung Association, say many people don’t even know it exists.
Jarod's Law used to enforce radon testing, but not anymore.
“Individuals can be exposed for many years, not show any ill effects. The problem with lung cancer is that once you start to experience symptoms, there’s an excellent chance that the lung cancer is already advanced,” Stewart said.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, killing an estimated 21,000 people in the US each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The American Lung Cancer Association says people who have never smoked make up approximately 2,900 of the estimated 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths each year.
Maps and research from the Environmental Protection Agency show the majority of Ohio has high levels of radon.
EPA Radon Map (Source: EPA)
More than 50 counties are in Zone 1, meaning soil has tested above unsafe levels.
“Radon doesn’t really care where it exposes people,” Stewart said.
What are the Ohio laws involving radon?
In Ohio, the only radon laws revolve around home sales. Sellers are required to disclose any known radon hazards, which is why you may see a radon mitigation system installed in your home.
Ohio has no requirements for radon testing in schools, or at least not anymore.
In 2004 Jarod’s Law was passed. It required, among other things, schools test for radon within five years. The law is named after Jarod Bennett. The 6-year-old Cincinnati area boy died when he was hit and killed by a folded-up cafeteria table. The law also required districts to replace things like outdated bleachers, carpets, and exhaust systems.
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