A state lawmaker is calling for a legislative hearing and introducing a bill mandating radon testing in schools across Minnesota.
It comes in the wake of a KARE 11 investigation that discovered just 53 of 331 districts across the state have tested classrooms for radon since 2012, despite recommendations by both state and federal health officials for testing to be conducted at least once every five years.
“That’s a problem and we need to fix it,” said Senator Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove).
Bigham is behind a bipartisan plan that would establish more rigorous and regular radon testing requirements for all of Minnesota's public schools. Currently it is just a recommendation.
“I’m surprised!” Bigham exclaimed, “And I was disappointed and upset that they weren’t being tested for. I mean this is a known carcinogen and it was very disappointing that this wasn’t being tested for.”
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas, that is a known carcinogen blamed every year for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide.
In Minnesota, 80 percent of counties are listed as radon hot zones.
KARE 11 also found wide disparities as to whether, when and how the 20 largest school districts in the Twin Cities metro area are testing their buildings for radon. Also, that schools in the counties with highest known concentrations of radon are not regularly tested, if at all.
Following that report, Governor Mark Dayton promised action.
“To have some hidden killer like this and school districts not to even bother to test for it is just disgraceful,” Dayton said.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Senator Bigham quickly introduced legislation to require Minnesota school districts be tested for radon, just as they are already required to test for asbestos, lead and other hazardous substances.
Time ran out to get that bill passed during the 2018 legislative session, but Bigham vowed not to let the issue drop.
“This is a very important subject,” Bigham said. “It’s a carcinogen, and our schools, our parents, our students deserve to know that the buildings that they spend their days in are healthy.”
The bill she has waiting to be introduced when lawmakers reconvene in January would make radon testing part of school districts already existing and funded 10-year facilities maintenance plans.
If passed, the new law would go into effect for the 2020 school year.
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