Dangerous levels of Radon found in 28 MCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The risk at 4.0 from a classroom is pretty much zero. Look at the actual statistics and how long they presuppose one is exposed to the room.

The risk at 4.0 is certainly not zero. The risk at 2.0 is not even zero. You're being ridiculous.

Pretty much zero, not actually zero. There is no such thing as actually-zero risk. (I'm not the PP you're responding to.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 4 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 7 people could develop lung cancer. (The EPA says that this risk of getting lung cancer compares to the risk of dying in a car crash.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 2 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 4 people could develp lung cancer. (The EPA says that reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 1.3 pCi/L (the average indoor radon level) over a lifetime, about 2 people could develop cancer.

http://www2.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

(I do not work for MCPS. I have never worked for MCPS. I have never worked in education at all.)

yes. all fun and games unless it is your child!
Plus the research shows that lung cancer is just one problem from smoking and there are so many more health related issues. Give me a break. Its radioactive gas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

yes. all fun and games unless it is your child!
Plus the research shows that lung cancer is just one problem from smoking and there are so many more health related issues. Give me a break. Its radioactive gas!

I don't understand your comment. "It's all fun and games unless it is your child!" applies to anything that has a risk, which is everything.

The health risk from radon is lung cancer. That's it. Just lung cancer.

And "radioactive gas" is not synonymous with "instant poison".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The risk at 4.0 from a classroom is pretty much zero. Look at the actual statistics and how long they presuppose one is exposed to the room.

The risk at 4.0 is certainly not zero. The risk at 2.0 is not even zero. You're being ridiculous.

Pretty much zero, not actually zero. There is no such thing as actually-zero risk. (I'm not the PP you're responding to.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 4 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 7 people could develop lung cancer. (The EPA says that this risk of getting lung cancer compares to the risk of dying in a car crash.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 2 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 4 people could develp lung cancer. (The EPA says that reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 1.3 pCi/L (the average indoor radon level) over a lifetime, about 2 people could develop cancer.

http://www2.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

(I do not work for MCPS. I have never worked for MCPS. I have never worked in education at all.)

No one is saying it's cause for panic. People are saying it's cause for remediation. Which, since it's above federal limits, it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The risk at 4.0 from a classroom is pretty much zero. Look at the actual statistics and how long they presuppose one is exposed to the room.

The risk at 4.0 is certainly not zero. The risk at 2.0 is not even zero. You're being ridiculous.

Pretty much zero, not actually zero. There is no such thing as actually-zero risk. (I'm not the PP you're responding to.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 4 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 7 people could develop lung cancer. (The EPA says that this risk of getting lung cancer compares to the risk of dying in a car crash.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 2 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 4 people could develp lung cancer. (The EPA says that reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.)

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to 1.3 pCi/L (the average indoor radon level) over a lifetime, about 2 people could develop cancer.

http://www2.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

(I do not work for MCPS. I have never worked for MCPS. I have never worked in education at all.)

Why are you arguing about appropriate risk levels when they've already been set by EPA and are being exceeded in these schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why are you arguing about appropriate risk levels when they've already been set by EPA and are being exceeded in these schools?

Who is arguing about the appropriateness of EPA's action levels?

These two statements:

1. The health risk to students from classroom exposure at these levels is low.
2. EPA says that schools should remediate at these levels.

are not mutually contradictory.

[Anonymous]

I understand that MCPS is sending out letters to the parents of students in the schools at issue? Has MCPS provided a reasonable explanation yet?

[Anonymous]

MCPS either totally dropped the ball on multiple levels from the maintenance staff through each schools principal or something worse is going on? They are going to avoid responsibility for as long as possible. MCPS needs its own Inspector General. In the mean time, Montgomery Counties IG should be investigating it.

[Anonymous]

Word on the street, or within MCPS, is the funding went to closing the achievement gap during the Starr Administration. Sources are pretty good, but not perfect. Hopefully PP is correct and an investigation is conducted.

[Anonymous]

As J Starr would say #SocialJustice! - close te achievement gap.

The truth behind this escapade may never be known.

The key is what needs to be done to ensure the health and safety of the children.

The second question is - where else is MCPS conducting similar activities - oversight is broken - likely parallels are going on.

May I ask if there are any lawyers, MDs, or educators in this forum whom can provide advice?

Anyone wiling to step up for the children?

[Anonymous]

+1 PP

The children come first! MCPS needs to ensure their health, safety and security.

Then there needs to be accountability and assurance that this does not happen again.

As many people have said in the past, MCPS needs its own independent oversight group. You would be surprised what goes on in some schools!

Let's see if Legget steps up at all. Doubtfull, let the school board find someone to blame.

[Anonymous]

+1,000 PP

The teachers who have been working in these schools, without a pay raise for year, deserve a real answer as well. Many of them have gone through pregnancies in this environment. MCPS

NEEDS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP!

[Anonymous]

+1,000,000

As Spike Lee said, "Do the right thing!"

#MCPS Please come clean!

Per PP - "Children come first".

FTW do not forget our most important profession - our educators. They have rights and needs as well!

#MCPS Do the right thing!

[Anonymous]

First and foremost, let's stop the blame game for now and help the children and teachers.

Then we can focus on what / who is to blame (bowser, leg get, or Starr)

Not just blame but fix the process iif possible in the MCPS environment

Common sense, ya?

[Anonymous]

There needs to be immediate action.
It is not happening. What will it take? Maybe all the parents pulling the kids out?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]
MCPS either totally dropped the ball on multiple levels from the maintenance staff through each schools principal or something worse is going on? They are going to avoid responsibility for as long as possible. MCPS needs its own Inspector General. In the mean time, Montgomery Counties IG should be investigating it.

[/quote]

Did you write him? [e-mail],
Send a letter now.