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Organizational Support Services
Radon Measurement
Service Provider
Contact: Michael Akana
EASTCONN Hampton, 376 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton, CT 06247
860-455-0707;
FAX: 860-455-0691
Voice Mail #: 860-455-0029, box 3305
makana@eastconn.org
EASTCONN’s Director of Facilities, Michael M. Akana has been certified to test schools, day-care centers and homes for radon by The National Radon Safety Board. Michael M. Akana’s NRSB certification number is: NRSB RMT #7ST0006. Look him up on the NRSB Web site.
On August 22, 2007, Michael also completed the state Department of Public Health Regulatory Services Branch, Environmental Health Section Radon Program’s training course, certifying him to conduct radon testing in Connecticut’s public schools. The State Department of Public Health lists Michael as being among its Qualified School Radon Measurement Professionals. Contact Michael for more information about radon testing at makana@eastconn.org or via phone at 860-455-0707, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What is the National Radon Safety Board? The NRSB seeks to encourage the highest standards of practice and integrity in radon services through the development of independent standards and procedures for certifying, approving and accrediting radon testers, mitigators, measurement devices, chambers and laboratories. It is an independent, nonprofit organization modeled on the American Board of Health Physics and is governed by a Certification Panel representing different facets of the radon industry, home inspectors, state governments, and consumer interests. – Excerpted from the NRSB Web site
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT RADON
Radon FAQs (Excerpted, in part, from the EPA
publication Radon in Schools, 2nd edition, publication # EPA-402-F-94-009)
What is radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Specific geological conditions in the Northeast make its residents particularly vulnerable to radon exposure.
What are the health risks associated with radon? The EPA ranks indoor radon contamination among the most serious environmental health risks facing Americans today. After smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, resulting in an estimated 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Exactly how does radon cause health problems? Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As these particles break down, they release small bursts of energy. These bursts can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of a lifetime. To learn more about radon, visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/.
Is my school district at risk for radon exposure? The EPA has classified different Connecticut regions according to their risks for radon exposure. The risk of radon exposure varies throughout the state. Please see the enclosed EPA map to view the risk to your school region.
Should our district test schools for radon? According to state law, all Connecticut schools must be tested for radon by January 1, 2008 [Connecticut General Statute 10-220(d)]. The only way to determine radon levels is through testing. If radon levels exceed 4.0 pCi/L (picoCuries per liter), the EPA recommends that schools take action to reduce or mitigate it. Learn more at the state Department of Public Health site: www.dph.state.ct.us/Radon/Radon_Schools.htm#1.
Is it difficult or expensive to test for radon in schools? Testing for radon is simple and relatively inexpensive.
At what time of year should we test schools for radon? Schools are required to test for radon while school is in session, from November – April 1, and once every five years thereafter. Results should be reported to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
May we conduct radon testing ourselves? No. Schools are required to use the services of a nationally certified radon technician.
How do I find a certified radon technician? Visit the state DOPH Web site at www.dph.state.ct.us/Radon/Radon_Schools.htm#1 and click on Qualified School Radon Measurement Professionals to find a list of nationally certified radon experts in Connecticut.
If a school tests above the recommended limit of 4.0 pCi/L, how do we fix the problem? EASTCONN can recommend certified radon-mitigation companies in your area. Or, you may find radon mitigation specialists at the state DOPH site. Go to the Web address above, and click on Mitigation Professionals to obtain a list.
For more information about school radon testing, contact: EASTCONN’s NRSB-certified (RMT#7ST0006) Radiation Measurement Technician, Michael Akana at 860-455-0707, or makana@eastconn.org. Visit www.eastconn.org and click on Operational Services, Programs and Services, Facilities Services, and Radon Testing Services. Or, view Akana’s certification listing at http://www.nrsb.org/Akana,Michael.htm.
Or, contact: The Connecticut Department of Public Health Radon Program 410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 51 RAD P.O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308 860-509-7367
RADON INFORMATION LINKS
The EPA’s radon map of the U.S. --
EPA’s radon map of Connecticut --
Link to CT General Statute 10-220(d), which mandates that all public schools in Connecticut be tested for radon by Jan. 1, 2008
Link to DPH site with information about radon in schools
Link to DPH site listing nationally certified radon technicians for schools
Link to DPH site listing nationally certified radon technicians for day-care centers http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Radon/Documents/measurement_list.pdf
Link to sites to learn more about radon:
www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/radon_facts.pdf
www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/
http://www.aarst.org/radon_risk.shtml
http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/radonhome.html