EPA 402/F/10/001 I June 2010 I www.epa.gov/iaq
                      Managing   Radon  in  Schools
                     The  Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Approach:
                      Key  Drivers and  Strategies for Success
       Successful school IAQ management
       programs are works in progress, and most
       districts put the components of success
       in place overtime. The "Framework
for Effective School IAQ Management: Key
Drivers" is a system enhanced by continuous
reinforcement. Implementation of one Key Driver
will support and contribute to the development of
another.

Strategies that support the Key Drivers
complement this positive feedback loop. Overall
program efficacy increases as school districts
incorporate each Key Driver into their programs.
This document describes how the "Framework for
Effective School IAQ Management: Key Drivers"
displayed in the graphic can help schools address
radon risks as part of a comprehensive IAQ
management program.
Framework for Effective School IAQ Management
                            Communicate
                              with Everyone
                              All the Time
            Assess
         Your Environments
           Continously
   Evaluate
   Your Results
  for Continuous
   Improvement
  #
i
         to Address Structural,
          Institutional and
          Behavioral Issues
   Plan
Your Short- and
  Long-Term
  Activities
                                      md
Successful IAQ management in schools comprises
effective pollution source control. Radon — a
radioactive gas — is one of the most hazardous
indoor pollutants. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. In the U.S., an estimated 20,000
people die from radon-induced lung cancer annually. Thousands of classrooms nationwide have elevated radon levels,
needlessly exposing hundreds of thousands of students and staff to this serious health risk.

EPA recommends testing all schools for radon. As part of an effective IAQ management program, schools can
take simple steps to test for radon and reduce risks to occupants if high radon levels are found. The only way to know
if elevated radon levels are present is to test. Many schools have successfully applied radon mitigation strategies to
control indoor radon levels.

Radon gas enters from the soil beneath the school through cracks and openings in the foundation. Air pressure inside
a building is sometimes lower than pressure in the soil under the foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, a
building acts like a vacuum,  drawing radon inside from the soil. Typical cracks and openings include joints where the
floor meets the wall, expansion joints in the floor, openings in the floor for pipes and wires, and hollow masonry walls
that penetrate the floor.

EPA offers detailed guidance on radon testing, results interpretation and mitigation in schools. Also, the IAQ Design
Tools for Schools document provides guidance on how to control radon in renovation and construction projects and
how to manage radon risks during repair, renovation and maintenance of existing facilities.
                                                                   Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

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         Managing Radon in Schools
Links and  Resources

http://www.epa.gov/radon — Visit EPA's Radon home page for facts, discussion points, and frequently asked
questions and answers.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs — Visit this webpage for EPA's radon guidance for schools.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html — Call your state radon office for state-specific recommendations.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/radonleaders.html — Connect with radon professionals and solicit advice.

http://www.sosradon.org — View the National Radon Poster Contest announcement and rules.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign — View the IAQ Design  Tools for Schools document.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html — Order or print an IAQ Tools for Schools kit
                                                              Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

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