Connector E-Newsletter #36: Manage Radon at Your School
April 28, 2011
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program
IN THIS ISSUE:
> News and Events
> Protect Against Radon at Your School
> Gain National Recognition for Your IAQ Efforts
> Have Your Questions Answered
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
NEWS AND EVENTS
• Learn Strategies for Managing Asthma in Schools: Attend
the 2011 Communities in Action National Asthma Forum to
network and learn best practices from national asthma experts.
The Forum is June 9-10, 2011, in Washington, D.C. Register
today!
• Discover the Value of Healthy School Environments: Watch
a video featuring U.S. EPAAdministrator Lisa Jackson, Healthy
School Network's Executive Director Claire Barnett and
Montgomery County, Md., public school officials on National
Healthy Schools Day as they highlight the importance of
creating healthy school environments.
• Save Your School Money by Going Green: Atypical
green school reduces direct costs by $100,000 per year,
while improving student health and performance. For more
information on the benefits of going green at school, visit the
U.S. Green Building Council's Green School Buildings website.
PROTECT AGAINST RADON AT YOUR SCHOOL
The average American spends 90 percent of his or her time
indoors — for students and staff, that equals a significant
amount of time spent inside of school buildings. Even though
you may be taking steps to protect your school community from
environmental and health risks, you may be overlooking an
unsuspected pollutant. Radon, a natural, radioactive gas that
enters buildings through cracks and openings in the foundation,
is one of the most hazardous indoor pollutants. An estimated
20,000 people die each year from radon-induced lung cancer. In
fact, it is the public's second leading cause of lung cancer and
the number one cause among never smokers. To be successful,
school IAQ management programs must include effective source
control of all indoor air pollutants, including radon.
Did You Know...
May is Asthma Awareness Month?
Asthma is a serious, potentially life-
threatening disease that affects the quality
of life for approximately 7 million children
nationwide and accounts for 10.5 million
missed school days each year. Take action
during Asthma Awareness Month to help
raise awareness about asthma triggers
and how to prevent asthma attacks at your
school.
Should we have our schools tested
for radon? Can air fresheners trigger
students' asthma?
Have these and other questions answered
on the Schools IAQ Connector Email
Discussion List. Join today by sending
a blank email message to schools_iaq_
connector-subscribe@lists.epa.gov.
Then check your email inbox for your
confirmation and membership details.
Access Past E-Newsletters Online
Can't find a past IAQ Tools for Schools
Connector e-newsletter in your email
inbox? No problem! Wish you could
read past editions? You can! Visit the
e-newsletter archive to access printable
versions (PDF) of all past editions on the
IAQ Tools for Schools website.
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Since you cannot smell or see radon, the only way to know if you have elevated radon levels in your
buildings is to test. These tests are simple to conduct and are the only way schools can determine if direct actions
are needed to reduce occupants' risk. Use the tips below from the Framework for Effective School IAQ Management
to develop a system to manage radon at your school.
• Organize for Success: To secure senior-level buy-in, partner with parent groups, local health departments and
other organizations to build support and understanding for why radon testing is important. Then integrate radon
management into the school's or district's overall health and environmental program goals and assemble your
team to plan for radon testing and potential mitigation.
• Communicate with Everyone All the Time: Integrate radon awareness into your existing IAQ training and
education efforts. Ensure you are transparent and inclusive — share test results, mitigation plans and plans for
follow-up testing with parents, school staff and others in the community.
• Assess Your Environments Continuously: Incorporate radon testing into regular IAQ walkthroughs. After
reviewing floor plans, determine how many radon test kits are necessary and where you should place the kits for
useful results. Track all assessment data and results for record keeping.
• Act to Address Structural, Institutional and Behavioral Issues: Test your school buildings. If elevated
levels are found — at or above EPA's recommended 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) action level — contact your
state radon office (www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html) for mitigation recommendations. (Some states have
specific guidelines on who can mitigate schools.)
• Plan Your Short and Long-Term Activities: Work with your team to identify your action steps in terms of
testing and mitigation, including what type of test kits to use and which areas to test. Consult your state radon
program for guidance on prioritizing action steps, determined by funding and staff resources.
• Evaluate Your Results for Continuous Improvement: Ask for feedback from the team, parents and others in
the community regarding the radon management process. Identify best practices for improving the process for
future follow-up tests.
For more detailed guidance on radon testing and mitigation in schools, download EPA's Managing Radon in Schools
document. This document details key strategies that successful school districts have implemented. It also includes a
list of useful resources.
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Interested in a firsthand story about radon? Watch a video featuring Janet McCabe, Deputy Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA, as she talks about her personal experience with radon
exposure.
GAIN NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR YOUR IAQ EFFORTS
Would you like to raise awareness about your IAQ management initiative or program? Does your school or
district deserve recognition for its efforts? IAQ Tools for Schools offers two merit-based awards for schools and
districts that are just beginning IAQ management. The National Great Start Award recognizes schools and districts
that have taken the initial first step of identifying an IAQ coordinator and/or an IAQ management team. The National
Leadership Award goes one step further — these schools and districts have ensured senior-level commitment
to establish and maintain a sustainable IAQ program that embodies the Framework for Effective School IAQ
Management.
If you are interested in highlighting your school or district's commitment to IAQ, visit the National Awards website
and complete the short application and narrative describing your current actions and future action plans for your
IAQ management plan implementation. Applications for both awards are accepted year-round. Read the narrative
excerpt below to learn how one school is making a difference by creating healthier learning environments for its
students.
Great Start Award Application Excerpt:
Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Mass.
"The Perkins mission is to provide education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and
adults around the world who are blind, deaf-blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities.
The school understands that poor indoor air quality can affect the health and wellbeing of students
and staff, and can lead to fatigue, a decrease in performance, poor attendance and asthma. The Perkins
School's objectives are to: maintain optimum airflow by maintaining our ventilation systems; improve the
quality of indoor air through preventative measures, including periodic inspections, routine maintenance
and other IAQ measures developed through our IAQ plan; be able to react to IAQ concerns and issues quickly
by organizing an IAQ team that understands these issues; and be able to resolve these problems in an efficient
manner."
For more information on how to apply for an IAQ Tools for Schools merit-based award, visit the National Awards
website. Applications are accepted year-round.
HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Is there a topic you want to see covered in an IAQ Tools for Schools Connector e-newsletter? Need more
information or have a quick question? Do you have suggestions fora webinar, an e-newsletter feature,
or are you simply curious about an IAQ topic and would like more information? If so, send us an email at
IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com.
Share YOUR news and events! Send us information to share with the school IAQ community. It could be
featured in the next e-newsletter. Email your news to IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com.
The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy
environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting and preventing IAQ problems. Learn more about the
IAQ Tools for Schools Program at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
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