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Radon testing in Jefferson County Public Schools

The FOCUS Investigative Team found Jefferson County Public Schools have not tested for cancer-causing radon since the 90s.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools has not tested for radon in decades despite being in an area the EPA says has a high potential for the cancer-causing gas.

In 2018, we sent open records requests to twenty districts in our area. We found that JCPS had tested for radon, but has not retested in decades.

In 2019, we checked with the district again to see if it was doing anything differently. JCPS' response was that they "have acquired the quote for a district testing by a third-party contractor. No decision has been made on testing. Annual checks and maintenance has been performed on our existing systems." We requested the quote but that request was denied — JCPS claimed that disclosing the quote would permit unfair commercial advantage to competitors.

Here is a summary of what we found:

  • JCPS initially tested all schools in 1989
  • Out of about 4,000 radon tests in 157 schools and facilities, 90.9% of the measurements were below the EPA recommended action level of 4.0 pCi/L
  • The highest level detected was 31.1 pCi/L
  • Nearly 60 of the buildings measured radon within the accepted levels. Two measurements were above 2 pCi/L
  • Follow-up radon tests were conducted from 1990 through 1993.
  • In 1992 mitigation systems were installed in nine facilities.
  • The seven mitigation systems in buildings that are currently open are checked to ensure they are functioning annually
  • Radon potential in the soil is assessed before construction

To contact JCPS about radon testing in the district, email Superintendent Marty Pollio.

RECORDS:

We've included part of the records we received through open records requests to display the most pertinent data. Additional data may be added at a later time.

INFORMATION FROM THE EXPERTS:

Kentucky schools are not required to test for radon but being exposed to the average level in Jefferson County (4.0 pCi/L) is equivalent to smoking a half a pack of cigarettes a day, according to the EPA.

 Approximately 21,000 Americans die annually from radon-induced lung cancer, including people who have quit smoking or never smoked.

The EPA recommended action level is at 4 pCi/L, while the World Health Organization recommends action at 2.7 pCi/L. Both organizations are clear, no level of radon exposure is safe, especially long-term. 

Changes in the building and environment could cause changes in radon exposure levels, therefore the EPA recommends retesting every building at least every other year to make sure levels do not reach dangerous levels.

The only way to know if levels of radon gas are dangerous is to test and retest.

MORE RESOURCES:

  • Find a test kit
  • The Jefferson County Health Department has 600 radon kits to give away. You can call 502-574-6650 or request a test online
  • County-level infographic from Kentucky State Radon Program © University of Kentucky BREATHE
  • EPA Kentucky Radon Exposure Map
  • State resources for radon

This is part of a WHAS11 investigation into radon exposure in schools. Read the full 2018 report.

Watch the follow-up 2019 report.

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Contact FOCUS reporter John Charlton atjcharlton@whas11.com. Follow him onTwitter (@JCharltonNews) andFacebook.

Contact FOCUS producer Andrea Ash at aash@whas11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@AndreaAshNews) and Facebook.

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