School Radon Testing

The North Tama County Community School District recently completed the process of testing its buildings for radon. The district recently received the good news that ALL test results came back below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) advised radon action level of 4.0 pCi/L. This means that parents, students, staff, and community can now have peace of mind that North Tama’s students, learning spaces are as safe as possible from the risks of radon.

What is radon and why does it matter? Radon gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, and moves upward through cracks and other openings in the foundations of buildings from the soil under a building. In the United States, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers.

The State of Iowa requires radon testing at least once every 5 years for all Iowa public school attendance centers, licensed preschools and licensed child care centers.

North Tama’s schools have been proactively placed on a multi-year rotating radon test schedule in order to ensure radon safety in the future.

For most students and staff, research suggests that schools are actually the second largest contributor to radon exposure. The home is likely to be the most significant source of radon exposure. Families are encouraged to test their homes for radon and if necessary, take action to reduce the risk of lung cancer by reducing elevated radon concentrations. 

If you have questions regarding radon testing at North Tama Schools, please feel free to contact David Hill, superintendent, at (319)478-2265. More information regarding residential radon testing can be found at www.epa.gov/radon.

 

VIEW NORTH TAMA'S MOST RECENT RADON TESTING RESULTS