College Announces Radon Testing Program

On Nov. 28, 2022, a student reported elevated levels of radon in a student apartment based on a self-administered test. Within days, the College engaged the services of environmental and industry experts to assist in developing a comprehensive testing, abatement and remediation plan. The first phase of testing, focused on similarly designed apartments, occurred over winter break.

Of the 47 apartment units tested, 43 yielded results showing elevated radon levels (greater than 4.0 pCi/L). While there were outlier results, the median concentration among elevated levels was 24.15 pCi/L. (For context, homes in Knox County averaged 22.3 pCi/L of radon in 2020, according to the Ohio Department of Health.)

Kenyon informed students as soon as it had confirmed the timeline and next steps for mitigation.

Of the units already tested and showing elevated levels, remediation work will begin as soon as we receive any necessary parts, expected Feb. 15, with the goal of completing it by the end of February. Testing of the remaining student and faculty residences will take place as quickly as possible, followed by testing of all other occupied buildings. Any building that yields elevated test results will be assessed to determine the most effective remediation. As an additional measure, the College is working with its radon remediation consultant to develop a cycle for routine radon testing and system maintenance.

Yes, there are radon mitigation systems in the Church of the Holy Spirit and other buildings that have required remediation over the years.

The effects of radon are associated with long-term exposure. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines direct residents to take measures to lower radon levels, as the College is doing. Students should contact the Office of Residential Life if they have specific housing questions; employees should speak with their supervisor or division head.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water. Levels of radon are common in the air we breathe every day.

Though radon is common in the everyday living environment, the Environmental Protection Agency has set guidelines that recommend limiting long-term exposure to high radon levels.

Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. These particles can damage lung tissue over the course of your lifetime. Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of radon health risks. Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an individual’s health risk from radon depends mostly on three factors: the level of radon, the duration of exposure and their smoking habits. The 4 pCi/L threshold recommended by the EPA is based on "lifetime" exposure. The Cleveland Clinic notes health risks from “repeated exposure over time — around 20 years” and “especially if you’re a smoker.”

A large number of factors influence radon concentrations:

 - The amount of uranium in the geological structures underlying the soil and how close the underlying structures are to the soil surface;

- The concentration of radon in the soil and the permeability of the soil;

- Time of day (radon concentrations often reach a peak in the middle of the night because of temperature differences between inside and outside) and the season;

- Weather conditions, such as temperature, wind speed and direction, and humidity;

- Building structure (slab construction, presence of crawl spaces)

- Ventilation conditions (areas where doors and windows may not be opened regularly)

- Type, operation and maintenance of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system

The quantity of radioactivity present is expressed in a unit called the Curie. One Curie is equivalent to 37 billion radioactive atoms disintegrating per second. However, the amount of radioactive atoms disintegrating per second as a result of the presence of radon in air is only a very small fraction of a Curie. In fact, the most convenient unit to express the amount of radioactivity present in air is the picoCurie, which is 1 trillionth of a Curie. For example, if an area has a radon level of 1 pCi/L of air this is equivalent to 0.037 radioactive atoms disintegrating per second in that liter of air.

No.

The primary entry route of radon in buildings is through the soil. However, radon can also enter through the water supply. It can then be released into the air while using water. Radon in water is not generally considered to be a problem for buildings serviced by a public water supply, as public water supplies must be tested per EPA requirements.

Radon emission from soil gas and its subsequent entry through the building foundation has been identified as the major source of radon in schools. Some building products may emit radon, but EPA studies indicate these concentrations are likely to be insignificant.

Radon (EPA)

About Radon (Ohio Department of Health)

There are a variety of tests available to measure the level of radon present, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of test. One of the most widely available is a short-term test that utilizes charcoal canisters. Charcoal canisters are typically placed for 3-5 days and then collected and analyzed. Charcoal testing is good for quick assessments of the radon present during the time the canisters were present, but it only presents a "snapshot" of the conditions during those 3-5 days. For long-term testing, defined by the EPA as exceeding 90 days, an alpha track will be used. These compact devices use an electrochemical coating inside the device to measure radon in locations for three months up to a year. 

The sampling canisters are small metal canisters, with a metal screen covering activated charcoal. The canister is about 2-3" in diameter and has a strip of tape around its edge to seal the canister lid before and after testing to keep it airtight.

No. The charcoal which the canisters contain is not hazardous, and the charcoal does not re-emit the radon after the radon is adsorbed.

One or more sampling canisters will be placed in areas of the building determined to provide a representative picture of radon levels within that building.

EPA studies indicate that radon levels on upper floors are not likely to exceed the levels found in ground contact rooms. Testing rooms in contact with the ground is generally regarded as sufficient to determine if radon is a problem in a building.

Not necessarily. Indoor radon levels can vary from room to room, depending on various factors that might include: the pattern of airflow in the building; the location of features such as crawlspaces and foundation cracks; and the depth of soil and rock under different parts of the building.

Not necessarily. Indoor radon levels may vary from building to building, and in some cases from room to room, so it is not possible to make a reliable prediction from one building to the next.