Radon gas: The hidden danger in our school buildings [opinion]

Do you know what radon gas is?

While most people have heard of radon, and many know that it’s dangerous, a recent survey found that only 10% of Berks County residents actually know what radon gas is. Even though only 10% know what radon gas is, every Berks resident has breathed it. If you are in Berks, there’s a good chance you are breathing it in right now.

So, what is radon gas? Radon is a radioactive gas found in trace amounts in the air we breathe. It seeps out of the ground and into our indoor and outdoor air. Outdoors, radon gas is whisked away by the wind, but indoors, radon gas can concentrate and become dangerous. If your home or child’s school happens to be in an area where radon gas is more concentrated, it can build up indoors to dangerous levels. Breathing in high levels of radon over a prolonged period can cause lung cancer.

I was in elementary school when I first heard about the dangers of radon. I wanted to know more about it, so I researched radon levels in homes and compiled my findings. My first project was judged the sixth-grade junior high champion in the Reading Berks Science and Engineering Fair.

This past year, I researched radon levels in well water here in Berks and again organized and presented my findings. My project was named the grand champion in the Reading Berks Science and Engineering Fair senior division. I went on to compete against students from all over the world at the International Science and Engineering Fair and placed first in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category.

I’m proud of my research and these accomplishments, but my real goal is to raise awareness about radon gas and support the state lawmakers who have introduced legislation requiring radon testing in commercial buildings — especially school buildings and child care centers — to protect children and students such as myself from dangerous radon gas.

Radon testing can be done when a house is sold so the new homeowners feel safe. Incredibly, there are no regulations requiring radon testing in commercial buildings, including schools, in Pennsylvania. Without testing, there is no way of knowing whether the air you and your children are breathing is safe. Nearby states like Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia all require regular radon testing in schools or child care centers. While these states have taken important steps to protect students, Pennsylvania has no such regulations, despite having a higher average radon level than all of these states.

I’m confident we can change that. Thankfully, a terrific group of bipartisan Pennsylvania House and Senate lawmakers are already working on this issue, including Berks County’s own Sen. Judy Schwank. Testing is easy, inexpensive, and the only way to know if your children, their teachers and school administrators are breathing safe air throughout the school day.

The EPA recognizes January as National Radon Action Month. This is a great time to conduct a radon test in your basement to make sure the air you and your family are breathing is safe. This is also the perfect time to reach out to your state House and Senate representatives and tell them why you support Senate Bill 339, introduced by state Sen. Christine Tartaglione. This legislation proposes commonsense radon regulations designed to keep us all safe from the hidden danger of radioactive radon gas.

I urge you all to join me in advocating for radon testing requirements that will make all Pennsylvanians safer and healthier. Together, we can ensure children, students, and adults are protected from this harmful gas.

Paige Hinkle is a junior at Wilson High School and winner of an international award for her research into radon in household water.