Exposure to Radon, a colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas, is one of leading causes of lung cancer, and may pose a significant long-term risk for school age children. We examined the regulations and statutes in each US state related to radon in schools to delineate key features of policies and discrepancies among states that may have public health implications. Search terms such as “radon”, “school”, “mitigation”, “certification”, “licensing”, and “radon resistant new construction” were used to scan current statutes from each state legislature’s website and regulations from official state government websites for relevant regulatory and statutory requirements concerning radon in schools. State regulations related to the testing, mitigation, and public dissemination of radon levels in schools are inconsistent and the lack of nationwide indoor radon policy for schools may
result in unacceptably high radon exposure levels in some US schools. We highlight the features and discrepancies of state laws and regulations concerning radon in schools, and offer several constructive means to reduce risks associated with radon exposure in school children.
Radon in Schools: A Brief Review of State Laws and Regulations in the United States
Kelsey Gordon 1 , Paul D. Terry 2,*, Xingxing Liu 1, Tiffany Harris 1, Don Vowell 3, Bud Yard 4
and Jiangang Chen 1,* August 2018
© Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction 2018 All rights reserved. Publications of the Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction can be obtained from Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction, 618 Evansville Ave. Waterloo, IL 62298 (tel.: (618) 830-4660; e-mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate CR3 News Magazine publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to the CR3 News Magazine Publisher, at the above address . The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction be liable for damages arising from its use. Printed in the United States of America.
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