In Dr . Ned Ketyer ’ s opinion , there should be no doubt that schools should test for radon — and test regularly .
“ The way radon works when it gets in the body is it damages DNA , and so that ’ s why radon is associated with cancer , especially lung cancer ,” said Ketyer , a pediatrician with Allegheny Health Network who has special interests in pediatric development and environmental health . “ It takes many years and even decades for that cancer to occur and for those people to be diagnosed .”
A child exposed to radon in elementary school today might not see the effects of that exposure until their 40s or 50s , he said .
It ’ s hard for kids to avoid exposure to radon — at school , where they spend about 1,000 hours a year in the classroom , and in their homes , where they spend even more time breathing :
“ When you think about it , who spends most time in basements playing or playing video games or watching TV ? It ’ s kids ,” Ketyer said . “ So they are at risk . Little kids play in the dirt where the dirt has radioactive uranium , which is what eventually decays into radon . And kids put everything in their mouths — their hands , their fingers , toys , rocks , everything . So they ’ re at risk because their exposure is greater .”
Ketyer and other experts said a child exposed to radon is twice as likely to develop lung cancer as an adult with the same level of exposure .
“ It affects our bodies , our genes ,” said Dr . Albert Rizzo , pulmonary critical care physician and chief medical officer for the American Lung Association . “ The problem with children is they have more rapid growth and there is more evidence that it can affect them . Children by definition are more at risk .”
The political impasse has to end :
“ Good-faith debate ” needs to occur among lawmakers from both parties , said [ Dr . Ketyer ].
“ I think it will take legislators learning about the problem and then discussing the problem in good faith with those who are in their party and those who are not in their party ,” he said .