Few Iowa schools testing for, addressing high radon levels

DES MOINES - Fewer than 1 in 5 Iowa school buildings have been tested for potentially harmful radon gas - and an even smaller percentage of those that tested for high radon levels have been addressed, a new state report shows.

Most major districts in the Corridor, however, have done radon testing and have not seen any dangerous results.

The report, released earlier this month, attempted to gauge to what extent schools are addressing the potential for harmful levels of radon, a gas that is prevalent in Iowa and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the country.

The report surveyed Iowa's 338 public school districts and drew responses from 133 of 179 non-public school systems. Only 17 percent of public school buildings and 21 percent of non-public school buildings have been tested for radon, and only 18 percent of all school districts have a radon testing and mitigation plan, the report states.

'I'm not surprised,” said Iowa Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, who, along with Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, pushed last year for legislation that would have required schools to test for radon.

The survey was the result of cross-party negotiations.

In buildings that tested for high radon levels, action was taken to mitigate the issue in only 13 percent of the public school buildings and a mere 4 percent of non-public school buildings.

Buildings that show dangerous radon levels can be mitigated by venting the gas from beneath the building or pressurizing and ventilating the building with an HVAC system.

No harmful levels

Though many school districts statewide do not have radon testing programs in place, most schools in the Corridor said they have tested for radon and not found any harmful levels of the gas.

Among area schools, the Cedar Rapids Community, College Community, Linn-Mar, Marion and Solon districts have testing programs in place, according to state data. The Clear Creek-Amana and Iowa City districts do not.

The Clear Creek-Amana district planned to put a testing program into place this year, according to the results of a state survey conducted this fall. The Iowa City district planned to implement one next school year.

The Cedar Rapids district is in the second year of a five-year testing program, buildings and grounds manager Rob Kleinsmith said. The district has tested 12 schools so far, with two more scheduled for this school year.

'We haven't seen one building yet that has not met the EPA's recommendation,” Kleinsmith said.

Katie Mulholland, superintendent of the Linn-Mar Community School District, said her district tests classrooms that are most likely to have high radon levels in all its schools every year. Linn-Mar schools have not had problems with radon, she added.

Sarah Pinion, superintendent of the Marion Independent School District, said Marion schools also have not had any problematic radon test results.

Iowa City Community School District chief operating officer David Dude said that district did some radon testing in the 2012-2013 school year but did not respond to requests for further comment.

The overall incidence of dangerous levels of radon in Iowa schools was very low, the report states. Of the 3,800 public school classrooms that have been tested, only 4 percent showed levels higher than 4 picocuries per liter, the level at which the U.S. EPA recommends schools take action.

HEALTH RISKS OF RADON

' Radon arises from the natural decay of uranium found in soil and rock. The decayed uranium can enter buildings through foundation cracks and settle in inhabitants' lungs, where it can lead to lung cancer.

' The colorless, odorless and tasteless gas also sometimes can be found in building materials.

' More than 70 percent of Iowa homes have radon levels above the level recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

' All 99 counties in Iowa are assessed by the EPA as zone 1 counties for radon, meaning they have the highest potential for dangerous levels of the gas.

' Radon causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, more deaths than are caused by drunk driving or drowning.

' Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

' For more information about purchasing a home radon testing kit, call (800) 383-5992.

Sources: Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Public Health