Iowa has enacted legislation that among other things, requires radon testing and mitigation in public schools. The legislation created a new section, 280.32 Radon testing and mitigation, to Iowa Code 280, Uniform School Requirements.
Iowa Heath and Human Services reports that that Iowa has the largest percentage (or 71.6%) of homes above the US Environmental Protection Agency action level of 4pCi/L. The Iowa Legislature deemed radon an important health issue and a concern for exposure of children in schools.
The Iowa Radon Measurement Guide for Schools has been published and its purpose is to provide Iowa schools with a protocol for accurately measuring radon levels in school buildings. This protocol was prepared as a compilation of work sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM). The guide was prepared in accordance with Iowa Administrative Code 641 Chapter 43 – Minimum Requirements for Radon Testing and Analysis regulated by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The extensive guideline objectives include:
1. To define the elements and components of radon and radon measurement using appropriate labels, terms, and wording, as well as possessing the ability to communicate effectively such definitions to others.
2. To understand the relevant laws and elements of physical science to the radon measurement process, as well as understanding the role of physical science in both the introduction and presence of radon in the environment.
3. To forecast radon occurrences, as well as predicting radon’s behavior at different times, in different places, and/or under different circumstances.
4. To measure relevant properties of radon, utilizing appropriate scales of measurement, interpreting both status and progression (change), and the ability to interpret such measurements validly and reliably.
5. To utilize the standard devices and/or instrumentation approved for radon measurement, their calibration and servicing, as well as the potential for errors associated with the misuse or misplacement of such devices.
6. To model the required elements of quality control and quality assurance throughout the measurement process as a continuous part of the measurement protocol and the inherent values of a quality-controlled approach to measurement.
7. To comply with existing laws, regulations, and other established procedural requirements associated with radon measurement and emulate the importance of legal oversight of radon-related activities.
8. To understand the processes associated with basic measurement and mitigation so that Iowa schools can manage the potential challenges that come with radon.
To see the guide, visit:
https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/7913/download?inline
United States