Deb Erdley and Megan Tomasic’s recent series of articles on radon in schools is an important reminder of the work that still needs to be done to protect children’s health in the places where they grow and learn.
Over the last decade, the state Legislature has been presented with the opportunity to vote for mandatory radon testing in schools on multiple occasions, and it has failed to act every single time. Legislators who are skeptical of the mandate worry about the high costs of testing and subsequent remediation, yet the state ended its last fiscal year with a multi-billion-dollar surplus. There is a clear lack of political will to enact this law that aims to protect health.
In our work at Women for a Healthy Environment, we have seen the direct consequences of not requiring radon testing in schools. Grants are available to reduce the cost of radon testing, but in the last five years only 13 of the 43 districts in Allegheny County have tested for radon. Without support from the state, thousands of children and school personnel are at potential risk of inhaling radon every school day.
We hope this series of articles encourages movement from our legislators to act now!
Dana Donovan
Shannon Meyers
East Liberty
Dana Donovan is health policy coordinator for Women for a Healthy Environment, and Shannon Meyers is healthy schools coordinator.