CR3 News Magazine 2020 VOL 4: September Radon, Schools & Home Study | Page 29

4 SAGE Open
Figure 3. Comparison of radon knowledge and likelihood to support radon testing in schools based on knowledge of radon.
The *** indicates that there is a significant difference with a p-value ≤ .05. Error bars represent the standard deviation for each of the means.
but people with more knowledge tended to be more likely to
support legislation. These data are displayed in Figure 3.
The grade level of the children of participants was also
recorded. Sixty percent of participants had children in elementary
school, 32% had children in middle school, and
28% had children in high school. Several parents had children
in more than one grade level. When stratified by grade
level of children, parents of elementary school children were
significantly more likely to support radon testing (p = .002),
mitigation (p = .012) and legislation mandating testing (p =
.011), mitigation (p = .009) than parents without elementary
school children. These data are displayed in Figure 4. There
were no significant differences in support for radon regulation
among parents of middle or high school students.
There were no significant differences in support for testing,
mitigation, or legislation requiring regulation of radon
among survey participants based on age, gender, level of
education, household income, household radon testing status,
or urban versus rural county of residence.
In addition to the survey data, a small group interview
was conducted with two community parents. Thematic content
analysis of this interview revealed three overarching
themes: (a) knowledge and awareness of radon, (b) financial
implications for schools and taxpayers, and (c) responsibility
for public safety and its precedence.
Discussion
The majority of parents responding to the survey demonstrated
a general knowledge and familiarity with radon; however,
only half knew that radon affects the lungs. This
highlights an important knowledge gap regarding the
health-associated consequences of exposure to radon. With
their current level of knowledge about radon, most Vermont
parents already believe that their children’s schools should
be tested for radon and are in favor of a law requiring radon
testing and disclosure, particularly parents of elementary
school–aged children. In addition, survey participants with
more knowledge about radon were significantly more likely
to support legislation regarding testing and mitigation of
elevated radon levels. It follows then that future public health
efforts should focus on increasing parent awareness of the
health risks of radon to children in schools. Additional education
about the health impacts of radon is likely to strengthen
the support of this demographic for new legislation. As one
parent commented, “Once the awareness gets out there, I
can’t imagine that there’s not going to be a giant flood of
support around it.”
The finding that parents of elementary school children
were significantly more likely to support radon testing, mitigation,
and legislation is interesting and may be related to the
particular vulnerability of this population to environmental
exposures (Bearer, 1995; Grigg, 2004; Leith Sly & Carpenter,
2012). The duration of potential exposure as young children
progress through multiple school systems could also contribute
to the increased support of regulation. Knowing that
these parents are particularly supportive of radon legislation
presents an opportunity to engage this population around the
issue of radon regulation in schools, as they may be a powerful
demographic to rally community support for proposed
legislation.
Only 8% of Vermont parents were confident that their
child’s school had informed them about radon levels, pointing
to a lack of communication between schools and parents