Time to act on radon testing in schools

Every year when we send our kids back to school, I wonder why Iowa still has no requirement for schools to test and mitigate for radon. Why do we keep ignoring this major public health threat?

The Environmental Protection Agency says that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Iowa and more than 400 people die here each year because of it. The entire state of Iowa is in an EPA Zone 1 for radon exposure, but we do nothing to prevent our children from breathing in this deadly gas daily while at school.

A recent Iowa Poll by the Des Moines Register found that 71 percent of Iowans supported testing and mitigating our schools. We have a responsibility to our children to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. It's time for our legislators to pass this requirement and protect our children.

Casey Dollison

North Liberty