Back to School Need: Indoor Air Quality and Radon Mitigation in Schools
It's September again.. This is the time of busy hallways, classrooms filled with eager students, and the start of another school year. But while parents and educators focus on books, supplies, and lesson plans, one critical factor often goes unnoticed: the air students breathe inside their schools.Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) directly affects the health, performance, and long-term well-being of students and staff. Among the pollutants that compromise IAQ, radon gas stands out as one of the most dangerous, and often overlooked; threats in schools across the U.S. and beyond.
The Hidden Risk in Classrooms
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into buildings through cracks in foundations, crawl spaces, and gaps around utility penetrations. Invisible, odorless, and tasteless, radon can accumulate indoors at unsafe levels without anyone realizing it.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. For children, the stakes are even higher: their faster breathing rates and developing lungs make them more vulnerable to radon exposure over time. In fact, the EPA estimates that 1 in 5 schools in the United States has at least one classroom with elevated radon levels. That means thousands of children and teachers are at risk every day simply by showing up to school.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Learning
Beyond the life-threatening risks of radon poisoning, poor indoor air quality in general has immediate and visible impacts on student success. Studies show that when classrooms have high levels of pollutants like radon, mold, or COâ‚‚, students experience:
• Increased headaches, coughing, and asthma symptoms
• Higher rates of absenteeism
• Decreased attention span and concentration
• Lower test scores and academic performance
On the flip side, when schools invest in clean indoor air, the benefits are clear: healthier students, improved attendance, and better learning outcomes. Simply put, good air equals better education.
The Role of Radon Testing and Mitigation
The good news is that radon problems in schools can be solved. The process starts with residential radon testing and commercial testing for schools, which determines whether radon levels exceed the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. If elevated levels are found, a radon mitigation contractor can install a system that safely reduces radon concentrations.
How does radon mitigation work?
A radon mitigation system typically uses a fan and PVC pipe system to draw radon gas from beneath the school’s foundation and vent it safely outdoors. This method, known as sub-slab depressurization, is highly effective at reducing radon levels.
The cost of a radon mitigation system for schools depends on the size of the building and complexity of installation, but the long-term health benefits far outweigh the expense. Investing in radon reduction ensures that students and teachers breathe safer air year after year.
Radon Gas Symptoms vs. Silent Threat
Unlike other pollutants, radon does not cause immediate, noticeable symptoms of radon exposure such as coughing or dizziness. Instead, long-term exposure leads to radon-induced lung cancer, often with no warning signs until it’s too late. This makes regular radon testing not just important… it’s essential!
Parents wouldn’t ignore a broken heater in the winter or unsafe drinking water in the cafeteria. Radon should be treated with the same urgency, because the health consequences of doing nothing are severe.
Why Schools Need to Act Now
September’s back-to-school season is the perfect reminder that schools must prioritize health alongside education. Creating a safe learning environment means ensuring every classroom has clean, breathable air.
By partnering with a radon mitigation contractor or joining networks like National Radon Defense, schools and facility managers gain access to proven testing, abatement, and remediation strategies. These partnerships provide not just radon removal, but ongoing support to maintain safe indoor environments.
And the benefits extend beyond the classroom. Parents gain peace of mind, school districts demonstrate responsibility, and communities see healthier, stronger outcomes for their children.
The Bigger Picture: Clear Air is a Global Mission
Radon doesn’t stop at city limits or state lines. From small towns in the Midwest to large urban districts in the Northeast, radon is a global issue that requires proactive solutions. By spreading awareness, schools can lead the way in protecting future generations from this invisible danger.
In fact, addressing radon in schools also raises awareness for homeowners, reminding families to ask critical questions:
• What is the radon level in my child’s school?
• Have I tested my own home for radon?
• If levels are high, do I know how much a radon mitigation system costs and where to find a radon mitigation contractor?
Why Omaha and Nebraska Schools Need to Focus on Indoor Air Quality and Radon Mitigation
September in Nebraska means more than football games, changing leaves, and crisp mornings. It’s also back-to-school season. Hallways across Omaha and the Midwest are filling with excited students, dedicated teachers, and the energy of a fresh school year. But while parents focus on supplies and educators focus on lesson plans, one critical factor often slips under the radar—the quality of the air inside our schools.
The Hidden Risk Beneath Nebraska Classrooms
In the Midwest, especially here in Nebraska, we face higher-than-average radon levels because of our soil makeup. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into buildings through cracks in foundations and utility gaps. It’s invisible, odorless, and tasteless; yet dangerous when it builds up indoors.
The EPA identifies radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., second only to smoking. And children are particularly vulnerable. With faster breathing rates and developing lungs, the risks to students exposed to radon over time are significant.
In fact, the EPA estimates that 1 in 5 schools across the U.S. has at least one classroom with unsafe radon levels. That means Nebraska kids could be sitting in classrooms every day where the air isn’t safe to breathe.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters in Schools
We know that poor indoor air quality whether from radon, mold, or COâ‚‚ (Carbon Dioxide) directly impacts student performance and health. In schools with poor air quality, studies show:
- More headaches, asthma flare-ups, and coughing
- Higher student absenteeism
- Shorter attention spans and less focus
- Lower test scores and academic performance
But when schools invest in healthier indoor air, the benefits are immediate and lasting: better attendance, stronger academic performance, and healthier kids. Simply put, clean air supports better education.
How Nebraska Schools Can Take Action
The good news is, radon in schools can be managed with proper testing and mitigation. It starts with a professional radon test. If results show radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L, schools should move quickly to install a mitigation system.
A typical radon mitigation system uses fans and piping to pull radon gas from beneath the foundation and vent it safely outside. This proven method—called sub-slab depressurization—is the most effective way to keep radon from accumulating indoors.
Yes, installing a system requires investment, but the long-term health benefits for students and staff make it one of the most important decisions a school district can make.
Why Urgency Matters
Radon doesn’t come with symptoms you notice right away. You won’t hear coughing, see watery eyes, or feel shortness of breath in the moment. Instead, radon exposure builds silently over time, increasing lung cancer risk with every breath. That’s why schools need to test, and if needed, mitigate; before the damage is done.
Parents wouldn’t ignore unsafe drinking water in the cafeteria or a broken furnace in the winter. Radon deserves the same level of urgency.
The Bigger Picture for Omaha and the Midwest
Addressing radon in schools is more than a building maintenance issue—it’s a community health priority. When Nebraska schools take action, they send a clear message: our kids’ health matters. And it doesn’t stop at the classroom door. When parents hear about radon in schools, many realize they’ve never tested their own homes. This creates a ripple effect of healthier schools, healthier homes, and ultimately healthier communities across Omaha and the entire Midwest.
This back-to-school season, let’s make clean air as essential as backpacks and pencils. By prioritizing radon testing and mitigation in Omaha and Nebraska schools, we can protect students, support teachers, and give families the peace of mind they deserve. Because when our kids breathe cleaner air, they don’t just feel better—they learn better, perform stronger, and grow up healthier.
Clear Air. Safer Schools. Brighter Futures for Nebraska.
This creates a ripple effect of healthier homes, healthier schools, and healthier communities.
As the new school year begins, let’s remember that learning starts with the basics and nothing is more basic than the air we breathe. By investing in radon testing, radon abatement, and clean indoor air systems, schools can protect the next generation from a silent yet preventable health threat. Because when kids breathe clean air, they don’t just feel better, they think clearer, learn faster, and build brighter futures. Get a free estimate here: https://www.radonmidwest.com/free-estimate.html