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Radon in Schools: A Brief Review of State Laws and Regulations in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Kelsey Gordon

    (Department of Public Health, 390 HPER Building, 1914 Andy Holt Avenue, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Paul D. Terry

    (Department of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA)

  • Xingxing Liu

    (Department of Public Health, 390 HPER Building, 1914 Andy Holt Avenue, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Tiffany Harris

    (Department of Public Health, 390 HPER Building, 1914 Andy Holt Avenue, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Don Vowell

    (The Vowell Law Firm, 6718 Albunda Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, USA)

  • Bud Yard

    (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 761 Emory Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA)

  • Jiangang Chen

    (Department of Public Health, 390 HPER Building, 1914 Andy Holt Avenue, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

Abstract

Exposure to Radon, a colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas, is one of leading causes of lung cancer, and may pose a significant long-term risk for school age children. We examined the regulations and statutes in each US state related to radon in schools to delineate key features of policies and discrepancies among states that may have public health implications. Search terms such as “radon”, “school”, “mitigation”, “certification”, “licensing”, and “radon resistant new construction” were used to scan current statutes from each state legislature’s website and regulations from official state government websites for relevant regulatory and statutory requirements concerning radon in schools. State regulations related to the testing, mitigation, and public dissemination of radon levels in schools are inconsistent and the lack of nationwide indoor radon policy for schools may result in unacceptably high radon exposure levels in some US schools. We highlight the features and discrepancies of state laws and regulations concerning radon in schools, and offer several constructive means to reduce risks associated with radon exposure in school children.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelsey Gordon & Paul D. Terry & Xingxing Liu & Tiffany Harris & Don Vowell & Bud Yard & Jiangang Chen, 2018. "Radon in Schools: A Brief Review of State Laws and Regulations in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2149-:d:172924
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lantz, P.M. & Mendez, D. & Philbert, M.A., 2013. "Radon, smoking, and lung cancer: The need to refocus radon control policy," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(3), pages 443-447.
    2. Antonio Azara & Marco Dettori & Paolo Castiglia & Andrea Piana & Paolo Durando & Valentina Parodi & Giovanni Salis & Laura Saderi & Giovanni Sotgiu, 2018. "Indoor Radon Exposure in Italian Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Stephanie Foster & Sherry Everett Jones, 2016. "Association of School District Policies for Radon Testing and Radon-Resistant New Construction Practices with Indoor Radon Zones," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-5, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paola Mozzoni & Silvana Pinelli & Massimo Corradi & Silvia Ranzieri & Delia Cavallo & Diana Poli, 2021. "Environmental/Occupational Exposure to Radon and Non-Pulmonary Neoplasm Risk: A Review of Epidemiologic Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-23, October.
    2. Elizabeth A. Davis & Judy Y. Ou & Cheyenne Chausow & Marco A. Verdeja & Eleanor Divver & James D. Johnston & John D. Beard, 2020. "Associations Between School Characteristics and Classroom Radon Concentrations in Utah’s Public Schools: A Project Completed by University Environmental Health Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Sandy Shergill & Lindsay Forsman-Phillips & Anne-Marie Nicol, 2021. "Radon in Schools: A Review of Radon Testing Efforts in Canadian Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-9, May.

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