Is Your Child's School Testing for Cancer Causing Radon? Advocate Rachael Drazan-Malmberg Wants to Know

• “EPA's national survey of schools produced some alarming results about concentrations in our children’s classrooms. Public awareness must be raised about the hazards of radon to hasten efforts to reduce the danger. All schools must be tested to determine if there is a problem, and schools must inform parents of the results. We cannot ignore this problem.” - Kathryn Whitfill, National PTA President.
• EPA estimates that more than 70,000 schoolrooms in use today have elevated radon levels, needlessly exposing hundreds of thousands of students and staff to this serious health risk.
• “Policies for radon testing in schools and radon-resistant new construction continue to be uncommon and moving targets.” National Institute of Health​​

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., September 26, 2018 (Newswire.com) - This year at the 2018 American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) International Radon Symposium, keynote speaker and lung cancer survivor, Rachael Drazan-Malmberg a former educator who advocates for stronger legislation around radon testing within schools, shares the story of her ordeal and promotes that schools comply with the EPA recommendations of radon testing.

• Rachael Drazan-Malmberg is a former collegiate and Olympic level athlete, mother, advocate, and lung cancer survivor at the age of 32. She coaches, volunteers, and advocates to prevent lung cancer. A never-smoker who was living a very active and healthy lifestyle when diagnosed with lung cancer. “Lung cancer does not limit my ability to achieve goals and, most importantly, lung cancer allows me to focus on others to help change the world.”
• EPA recommends testing all schools for radon. As part of an effective Indoor Air Quality management program, schools can take simple steps to test for radon and reduce risks to occupants if high radon levels are found.
• Radon is the no. 1 leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless toxic gas that is naturally emitted from soil and gets trapped in buildings exposing people to its carcinogenic properties.

The AARST International Radon Symposium™ and Trade Show attracts hundreds of attendees from around the world, and over 100 presenters, manufacturers, and vendors. Join us in Myrtle Beach Sept. 30 - Oct 3, 2018, to hear new voices of radon-induced lung cancer survival woven throughout the Symposium. Attendees will be inspired by how their diagnosis and recovery shifted personal passions to an action plan. Attendees will step away with new tools to increase testing and mitigation in your community.

Lung cancer does not limit my ability to achieve goals and, most importantly, lung cancer allows me to focus on others to help change the world.

Rachael Drazan-Malmberg, Keynote Speaker at 2018 AARST International Radon Symposium

In addition to hearing these inspiring stories of surviving cancer, attendees will discover new directions for radon policy, emerging technical advances in measurement and mitigation, and cutting-edge radon science and research. The program will deliver a balance of training and discussion, with daily social events providing time to network and unwind. The trade show will present 50+ radon and business related companies offering useful and interesting products and services.

AARST is a nonprofit organization of Radon Professionals Saving Lives. AARST Members work together to increase public awareness and grow their businesses, detecting, researching, mitigating, and managing initiatives to lower radon-induced lung cancer. 

Click here for AARST Press Resources.

Source: American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists