From an interview with Della Youngblood, Senior Health Physicist, of the Mississippi State Department of Health Radon Program
By Margaret Henderson (CRCPD)
In Mississippi, children and schools are the focus of the radon program, called the Radon In Schools Program. “People in Mississippi are concerned about the kids and their health and safety,” notes Della Youngblood, Senior Health Physicist, of the Mississippi State Department of Health Radon Program. By focusing on schools, not only is the environment for children improved, but also the children become messengers taking the information about radon to their parents. As Della explains, they go home and tell their families about radon saying, “That lady came and tested our school!”
The Radon Program keeps Della busy travelling to schools throughout Mississippi putting out test kits on Fridays and picking them up on Mondays. “At each school, every room is tested since you don’t know which may or may not have radon issues,” she explains. Sometimes that can be as many as 100 rooms in one school.
When results show that mitigation is needed (levels exceed 4pCi/L), the Radon In Schools Program contracts with instructors to teach school maintenance staff about mitigation so that the schools may perform their own mitigations. Della conducts follow-up visits to assure that the systems are still working and provides testing if there’s been new construction.
Most of Mississippi is classed as an EPA Zone 3, an area of low radon potential (probable indoor radon average below 4 pCi/L). In Mississippi, less than three percent of the homes have radon levels in excess of the EPA recommended action level of 4 pCi/L, according to the department’s website. To encourage residents to test for indoor radon, during January 2014, the program provided free test kits and return postage to individuals on a first come-first serve basis. A flyer was sent in newspapers with this offer. Another outreach to homeowners is made through providing test kits and information at the Health Fair for the State Convention of Homebuilders Association. These outreach efforts are important, Della explained, because often people are aware of other indoor health issues such as asbestos or mold, but do not know about the hazards of radon. Outreach through the building community, combined with an informative website the Mississippi State Department of Health provides, gives residents of Mississippi the opportunity to learn about radon and test their homes.
With the successful and comprehensive Radon In Schools Program, the outreach to homeowners and the training of maintenance staff in the schools systems, the Mississippi Radon Program is reaching individuals in schools and in households across the state in its efforts to reduce indoor radon and improve the environmental health of the residents.
For more information, contact:
Della Youngblood, M.S.
Health Physicist Senior
805 S. Wheatley Street, Suite 360
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Telephone: 601-991-6076
Fax: 601-956-4989
Radon Information Line: 1-800-626-7739
della.youngblood@msdh.state.ms.us
http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/44,0,100.html
United States