A Startling Low Number Of Minnesota Schools Test For Toxic Radon

By now, all homeowners should be well aware of radon gas and should consistently test their homes to ensure levels are not elevated.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, colorless, and odorless gas that forms from the decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It's a significant health concern because prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer.

In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, which kills more than 21,000 people in the United States each year, so the EPA recommends testing for radon in your home at least once every two years.

For new homes, testing is recommended during the first winter of occupancy, and then again in the third and fifth years. Retesting is also recommended when living conditions change, such as moving to a basement or making renovations that could affect radon levels.

Retesting is also recommended when living conditions change, such as moving to a basement or making renovations that could affect radon levels.

If your home has high radon levels, the first step is to hire a certified professional to install a radon mitigation system. Other steps could then include increasing ventilation and sealing cracks in your home to further reduce radon levels.

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With the much-needed focus on radon levels in our homes, you'd think there would be mandates on testing for radon in our schools, since that is where kids throughout Minnesota spend so much of their time. However, that is currently not the case.

Radon Testing In Minnesota Schools

Experts say that children are among the most sensitive to radon gas. They breathe deeper, faster, and proportionately more air than adults, and because their lungs are developing faster, they are more sensitive to indoor air quality.

That's why I was surprised that only 10 states currently require testing for radon in schools, and just 13 states explicitly address radon issues in schools.

Radon testing is not legally required in Minnesota public schools, but recently, the Minnesota Department of Health addressed the issue when a recent report revealed a shockingly low number of public schools testing for radon, and 16% of those that did test found elevated radon in one or more rooms.

A New Report Shows More Testing Needed In Minnesota Public Schools

The Minnesota Department of Public Health (MDH) recently shared that a new, first-of-its-kind report discovered that only 39% of Minnesota public schools were tested for radon. While there is no legal requirement to do so, and budget can be a barrier, the MDH encourages schools to test for radon and offers assistance.

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The MDH report, Testing trends for radon in indoor air in public schools, Minnesota Department of Health, Fall 2024, found that:

Of the schools that tested, 16% had elevated radon in one or more rooms.
School districts with less funding for facilities were less likely to test for radon.
School districts with a higher proportion of low-income families were less likely to test for radon.

A map in the report showed that counties with the most schools that tested for radon were clustered in the metro area and in south central and southeastern Minnesota.

“This new information is important because it can help us see where we need to target our resources and improve our outreach to increase testing,” said Dan Tranter, supervisor of the Indoor Air Unit at MDH.

Tranter added that inadequate funding may be one barrier to testing, and another may be a lack of awareness about how to test and take necessary steps to reduce radon.

In school buildings found to have high radon levels, reducing (or mitigating) radon involves installing a venting pipe and fan to pull the air from under the building to the outside, or installing other mechanical ventilation. This reduces the amount of radon to low levels.

Minnesota Department of Health staff can provide training, technical assistance, and a reduced-cost testing kit to make it easier for schools to test for radon. For more information, contact MDH’s Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or send an email to health.indoorair@state.mn.us.

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These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew