Associations Between School Characteristics and Classroom Radon Concentrations in Utah’s Public Schools: A Project Completed by University Environmental Health Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JudyY. Ou¹  MarcoA. Verdeja²  ElizabethA. Davis²  JohnD. Beard²  JamesD. Johnston²  Cheyenne Chausow²  Eleanor Divver³ 

[1] Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;Radon Program, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, USA;

关键词: environmental;    exposure assessment;    occupational;    radon;    school;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph17165839

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Radon (²²²Rn), a radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. Classroom radon concentrations in public schools in our target area had never been measured or had not been measured in many years. We had university students, primarily enrolled in environmental health courses, measure radon concentrations in 2289 classrooms in 66 of Utah’s public schools and identify school characteristics associated with classroom radon concentrations. The geometric mean (GM) classroom radon concentration was 31.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.16, 36.28) Bq/m³ (GM: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.98 pCi/L). Thirty-seven (2%) classrooms in 13 (20%) schools had radon concentrations at or above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended action level of 148 Bq/m³ (4.0 pCi/L). Number of classrooms had a u-shaped association with classroom radon concentrations. The year the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system was installed was inversely associated with having classroom radon concentrations at or above the EPA’s recommended action level. Number of classrooms and number of students had u-shaped associations with having classroom radon concentrations at or above the EPA’s recommended action level. Classroom radon concentrations decreased when schools’ HVAC systems were on. Replacing HVAC systems and turning/keeping them on may be effective radon mitigation strategies to prevent radon-associated lung cancer, especially for small and large schools.

【 授权许可】

Unknown