CAREX Canada, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, Canada.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, Canada.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 20;18(10):5469. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105469.
Radon, a known carcinogen, becomes a health risk when it accumulates inside buildings. Exposure is of particular concern for children, as their longer life expectancy increases their lifetime risk of developing cancer. In 2016, 5.5 million students were enrolled in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. With no national policy on radon testing in schools, children may be at risk from radon exposure while attending school and school-based programs. This study explored radon testing efforts in publicly funded Canadian schools and summarizes where testing programs have occurred. Radon testing in schools was identified through a systematic qualitative enquiry, surveying members from different levels of government (health and education) and other stakeholders (school boards, research experts, among others). Overall, this research found that approaches to radon testing varied considerably by province and region. Responsibility for radon testing in schools was often deferred between government, school boards, building managers and construction parties. Transparency around radon testing, including which schools had been tested and whether radon levels had been mitigated, also emerged as an issue. Radon testing of schools across Canada, including mitigation and clear communication strategies, needs to improve to ensure a healthy indoor environment for staff and students.
氡是一种已知的致癌物质，当它在建筑物内积聚时，就会成为健康风险。儿童尤其受到关注，因为他们的预期寿命较长，患癌症的终生风险也随之增加。2016 年，有 550 万名学生在加拿大的小学和中学就读。由于加拿大没有关于学校氡测试的国家政策，儿童在上学和参加学校活动时可能会面临氡暴露的风险。本研究探讨了加拿大公立学校的氡测试工作，并总结了测试计划的实施情况。通过系统的定性研究，确定了学校中的氡测试，调查了来自不同级别政府（卫生和教育）和其他利益相关者（学校董事会、研究专家等）的成员。总的来说，这项研究发现，各省和地区的氡测试方法差异很大。学校氡测试的责任通常在政府、学校董事会、建筑经理和建筑方之间推诿。氡测试的透明度，包括已经测试过的学校以及氡水平是否已经得到缓解，也成为一个问题。加拿大各地的学校都需要改进氡测试，包括缓解和明确的沟通策略，以确保员工和学生的室内环境健康。
