Illustration of radon gas seeping into a school building, highlighting the hidden dangers of radon exposure.

Is Your Child's School Safe? The Hidden Danger of Radon Exposure

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Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"A comprehensive guide to understanding radon risks in schools, state regulations, and how to protect your children's health."


Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses a significant health risk, especially to children. As one of the leading causes of lung cancer, radon exposure in schools is a growing concern that demands attention from parents, educators, and policymakers alike. The long-term effects of this silent threat can be particularly detrimental during formative years, making awareness and proactive measures crucial.

While radon's presence in homes has been widely discussed, its prevalence in schools often goes unnoticed. Children spend a considerable amount of their time indoors, making schools a critical environment for monitoring and mitigating radon levels. The potential for prolonged exposure in these settings raises serious questions about the adequacy of current safety standards and regulations.

This article delves into the complexities surrounding radon in schools, examining the current state of regulations across the United States. By highlighting the discrepancies and inconsistencies in state laws, we aim to empower you with the knowledge needed to advocate for safer school environments. We'll also provide practical steps and constructive means to reduce the risks associated with radon exposure, ensuring a healthier future for our children.

Understanding the Radon Threat: Why Schools are at Risk

Illustration of radon gas seeping into a school building, highlighting the hidden dangers of radon exposure.

Radon-222 (²²²Rn), the most common isotope of radon, has a half-life of 3.8 days, allowing it to travel some distance and seep into buildings through cracks in floors, construction joints, and around service pipes. There is no safe level of radon in the living environment, and its health effects, particularly lung cancer, have been investigated for decades. Children are more vulnerable than adults due to morphometric differences between their lungs and higher respiration rates. They also spend more time indoors, increasing their exposure.

A U.S. EPA survey estimated that nearly one in five schools in the US has at least one schoolroom with short-term radon levels above the action level of 4 pCi/L, the level at which USEPA recommends that schools take mitigation actions. Given the potential for prolonged exposure and the increased vulnerability of children, it is essential to understand the factors contributing to radon risk in schools.

  • Cracks in Floors and Walls: Radon can seep into buildings through cracks in the foundation, walls, and floors.
  • Construction Joints: Joints in the building's construction can provide pathways for radon entry.
  • Around Service Pipes: Openings around pipes and wiring can allow radon to enter.
  • Soil Composition: The type of soil around a school building can significantly impact radon levels. Soils rich in uranium are more likely to produce radon gas.
  • Ventilation Systems: Poorly designed or maintained ventilation systems can exacerbate radon accumulation by failing to adequately circulate fresh air.
The lack of a unified federal policy on radon levels in schools exacerbates the problem. Without consistent standards, schools in different states may have vastly different levels of protection. It's crucial to understand the state-specific regulations in your area and advocate for comprehensive testing and mitigation measures.

Take Action: Protecting Our Children from Radon Exposure

The fight against radon exposure in schools requires a multi-faceted approach, including increased awareness, consistent federal guidelines, and proactive measures at the state and local levels. By understanding the risks, advocating for change, and taking steps to protect our children, we can create safer and healthier learning environments for all. Staying informed, getting involved in school safety initiatives, and supporting policies that prioritize children's health are crucial steps in mitigating the dangers of radon in schools.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/ijerph15102149, Alternate LINK

Title: Radon In Schools: A Brief Review Of State Laws And Regulations In The United States

Subject: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Kelsey Gordon, Paul Terry, Xingxing Liu, Tiffany Harris, Don Vowell, Bud Yard, Jiangang Chen

Published: 2018-09-30

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is Radon and why is it a concern in schools?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, specifically Radon-222, and a leading cause of lung cancer. It poses a significant health risk, especially to children, due to their higher respiration rates and the fact that they spend more time indoors. In schools, radon can seep in through cracks in floors and walls, construction joints, and around service pipes, leading to prolonged exposure and increased health risks.

2

What factors contribute to Radon entering schools?

Radon-222 enters schools through various pathways: cracks in floors and walls, construction joints, openings around service pipes, soil composition, and ventilation systems. Soils rich in uranium are more likely to produce radon gas. Poorly designed or maintained ventilation systems can also exacerbate radon accumulation by failing to adequately circulate fresh air.

3

What level of Radon in schools should cause concern and action?

The U.S. EPA recommends that schools take mitigation actions when short-term radon levels exceed 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). A survey estimated that nearly one in five schools in the US has at least one schoolroom with levels above this action level.

4

Why are children more vulnerable to Radon exposure than adults, and what are the potential long-term effects?

Children are more vulnerable to Radon-222 exposure due to morphometric differences between their lungs and higher respiration rates. They also spend more time indoors, increasing their exposure. The long-term effect of Radon exposure is lung cancer. Because the effects of Radon-222 accumulate over time, prolonged exposure during childhood can significantly increase the lifetime risk of developing this disease.

5

What actions can be taken to protect children from Radon exposure in schools, and why is a unified federal policy important?

Protecting children from Radon exposure requires a multi-faceted approach, including increased awareness, proactive measures at the state and local levels, and consistent federal guidelines. Actions include regular testing, mitigation measures to reduce Radon levels, and ensuring well-maintained ventilation systems. A unified federal policy is essential because the lack of consistent standards leads to vastly different levels of protection across states, exacerbating the risks for children in areas with weaker regulations. Without consistent federal guidelines the inconsistencies in state laws will continue.

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