6 SAGE Open
and exhibits its toxicity in a dose-dependent effect . Therefore , if radon exposure is tested for and minimized in these environments , it could significantly reduce lung cancer – related morbidity and mortality in the school employee and former student populations .
What Can Be Done to Increase Awareness of Radon ?
As radon has become a more recognized health concern , several groups across the country have made efforts to increase awareness and decrease exposure to radon . In Montana , it was found that social marketing was an effective strategy to increase awareness of and testing for radon in residential buildings ( Larsson , 2014 ). The U . S . EPA ( 2007 ) and other studies ( Latour & Henthorne , 2001 ; Yoder & Murphy , 2012 ) have similarly supported the effectiveness of social marketing in radon education programs . A community outreach program in Iowa , conducted over 5 years and composed of educational handouts , videos , social media postings , and physician-led educational sessions , also led to a small but significant increase in radon awareness and testing in homes ( Bain et al ., 2016 ). It is possible that if similar educational efforts are undertaken among parents targeted at increasing testing in schools , we could similarly see increased radon testing and mitigation .
Targeting teachers and students to help educate voters about the risk of radon in schools could be a particularly effective approach . A group out of Georgia has been developing a curriculum for third- and fifth-grade students with age-appropriate resources including maps and handouts ( Foster et al ., 2015 ). Similarly , New Jersey partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a radon curriculum for teachers at the elementary , middle school , and high school levels in the state ( State of New Jersey , Department of Environmental Protection , Radiation Protection Element , 2016 ). Vermont , Nevada , and Colorado , among other states , have sponsored radon poster contests for middle school students to encourage children to learn more about the health risks of radon ( Asperin , 2017 ; Thompson , 2020 ). Winning posters were submitted to a national contest aimed at increasing public awareness about radon to increase residential radon testing ( Daniels , 2015 ). Similar programs directed at school children would likely be very effective in increasing public awareness about radon testing and awareness in schools across the nation .
Future Directions
To test the hypothesis that increased knowledge about radon would increase support for radon regulation in schools , a future study could survey parents / guardians before and after receiving education about radon and see how their level of support changed after education . In addition , reaching out to teachers and school staff to learn more about their knowledge of radon and perspectives about radon regulation in schools was beyond the scope of this study , but is an interesting area for future study .
Study Limitations
One limitation of the survey is the predominant recruitment of participants at locations and events near Burlington , Vermont . As a result , there is a disproportionate representation from the most populous county over other , more rural Vermont counties . In addition , the population of survey participants was relatively homogeneous with the majority being white , well-educated , and women above the age of 30 . The collection of surveys in doctor ’ s offices , farmer ’ s markets , and supermarkets may also have created a selection bias for participants with greater access to health resources . These limitations affect the generalizability of the study conclusions . The cross-sectional study design also prevents us from being able to establish causation between increased knowledge about radon testing and increased support for mitigation . In addition , one survey was included from a parent or guardian from the neighboring state of New York , and the discussion group consisted of only two members , limiting generalizability .
Conclusion
Many Vermont parents of children grades K-12 are unaware that radon is a lung carcinogen and most do not know the radon level or mitigation status of their children ’ s schools . However , most are in favor of legislation that would require radon testing in schools , disclosure of the results , and mitigation of elevated levels . Parents with elementary school children were significantly more supportive of radon testing , mitigation , and legislation than parents with only children in middle and / or high school . This suggests that parents of younger children may be a particularly important demographic to target when garnering community support for proposed legislative changes . Participants with more knowledge about radon were also significantly more likely to support testing , demonstrating that further education about the dangers of radon is necessary to strengthen existing support .
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author ( s ) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research , authorship , and / or publication of this article .
Funding
The author ( s ) received no financial support for the research , authorship , and / or publication of this article .
ORCID iD Kirsten Martin https :// orcid . org / 0000-0002-0528-7149