August is here, which means it’s time to purchase school supplies and pack school lunches. As your kids head back to their studies, there’s one item on your to-do list you shouldn’t forget: testing for radon.
And according to an article published by the American Lung Association last week, as students head back to class or daycare, it’s critical that parents talk to their child’s school about testing for radon and to test their own homes if they haven’t already.
A local takes action
Patricia and Igor Andric first learned about radon when they bought a home in Southern Utah two years ago. They were offered a radon test during the inspection, but declined because it’s not required in Utah, unlike in other states, for home purchases.
Two years after learning about the health risks tied to radon, they tested their home and found that they and their family had been exposed to dangerous radon levels.
Last summer, the Andrics moved to Eden, Utah, where they currently lease a home. While they had every intention of testing the home for radon, a year passed by. “In our lease agreement, there was no mention of the possibility of radon gas exposure,” explained Patricia. “We lived in Eden for almost a year when we noticed our neighbor had Utah Radon Services at his home.”
The neighbor’s home tested at 30.0 pCi/L, the equivalent cancer risk of smoking 60 cigarettes a day. The EPA recommends considering installing a radon mitigation system at 2.0 pCi/L. The Andrics tested their home shortly after and found that their home also tested high.
People are dying from radon gas exposure every day, and it’s important for Utah residents to take this seriously.
–Patricia Andric, Eden, Utah resident and nurse practitioner
Shocked by the lack of awareness, the Andrics jumped into action to protect others from radon-induced illness. As a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife, Patricia has become committed to educating her community about the risks of radon gas exposure.
“We feel disappointed that there are very few people who know about radon gas and its health risks throughout Utah, and there is very little information about radon gas available within communities,” shared Patricia. “It’s heartbreaking that new home developments are being built without radon home mitigation systems, and home buyers and landlords are not required to radon test their homes before purchase or lease.”
After their run-in with radon, the Andrics brainstormed ways they could inform and protect as many people as possible.
They started where their kids spend most of their time outside their home: their local elementary school. After discussions with the school administration and district, local school leaders agreed to implement ongoing radon testing in all of their schools.
What you can do this school year
As students head back to class or daycare, it’s critical that parents talk to their child’s school about testing for radon and to test their own homes if they haven’t already.
The Andrics want all Utahns to know you can’t escape radon in this state. With 49% of homes testing at or above the mitigation threshold, it is imperative that every Utah resident test their homes, their daycares and schools for radon. “People are dying from radon gas exposure every day, and it’s important for Utah residents to take this seriously,” says Andric.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive natural gas that rises from the ground. While it’s not very dangerous in outdoor air, it can concentrate indoors at dangerous levels. Radon doesn’t discriminate — it can go through pores, cracks, and joints in the foundation of any building, no matter how old it is.
When someone spends a lot of time in a building with high radon, they significantly increase their risk of lung cancer, childhood leukemia, and other diseases.
21,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer every year in the U.S., and 49% of Utah homes have high radon levels.
Radon can’t be detected by our senses, so most people don’t know they have a radon problem until they receive a stage three or four lung cancer diagnosis.
Where should I be concerned about radon?
Much of the radon education focuses on homes, but there are additional places that should be tested for radon. Adults who work a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job spend 2,080 hours in office buildings, and students spend around 1,000 hours in school buildings.
Additionally, kids have a higher respiratory rate than adults, which means they may inhale more radon.
What can I do?
Radon is serious, but you don’t have to live in fear. All Utahns can request a free test for their home at UtahRadon.org. If your home tests high, a permanent radon mitigation system can be installed for a reasonable price by a certified professional.
Additionally, all Utahns are encouraged to contact their children’s schools and daycares to ask about radon testing. With proactive and regular testing, countless children’s lives may be saved from radon-induced illnesses.
