Budget cuts, school lunches, and teacher benefits have been
making headlines almost daily for as long as most can remember. With the
educational system being under the microscope for so long, it is hard to believe
that the buildings children spend so much time in might actually be causing
long-term health issues, such as lung cancer.
The 2013 State of Our Schools
Report indicates that the last survey of the nation's school conditions was
completed in 1995, nearly 20 years ago, leaving an estimated 70,000 schools
with high levels of radon gas, according to the EPA. (Read Full Report here).
"All students
have the right to expect a safe and healthy environment. Teachers and other
school employees should encourage their schools to conduct radon tests and
undertake all necessary corrective actions. The health of our children demands
no less." Keith
Geiger, NEA President. (Read Full
Article Here)
Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, making
it the second leading cause of lung cancer as a whole. Being odorless,
colorless and radioactive it is a silent killer that could be wrecking havoc on
the young lungs of millions of children nationwide.
Companies like Air Check, Inc. have a School Radon Testing
Program (More Information Here), and companies
like SWAT Environmental are able to mitigate indoor radon in schools once the
problem is found. Testing for radon is the only way to know if high levels of
radon are present. Keep your children safe by requesting their school be tested
for radon.
