Radon Testing at Minneapolis Public Schools

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water which can then get into the air we breathe and cause significant health problems. According to the EPA, radon gas can be found all over the U.S. in any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and can result in a high indoor radon level.

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning and work environment for all of our students and staff and performs radon testing in accordance with all Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidleines. We recognize the importance of protecting our students and staff from potential radon exposure and are confident the procedures established in the Radon Safety Management Plan will accomplish that goal. The Plan is designed to minimize the exposure of students and staff to radon gas throughout the MPS district and is a continuation of the efforts that MPS has made since the mid-1990s. MPS Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) manages the implementation of the Plan and it is reviewed annually by the EH&S Manager and updated as required.

All school buildings in the district were tested for radon in 1996. Eight schools were found to have rooms with radon levels above the EPA and MDH action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Mitigation methods were implemented, and the areas were re-tested to confirm that the levels were below the action level. In 2017, MPS continued our radon testing program. Radon testing has now been completed in all district buildings and will be performed continuously on a 5-year rotation. Radon levels throughout the district buildings have been found to be very low with follow-up testing and/or mitigation methods implemented in any space found to be elevated to ensure that radon levels are below the action level.

If you have additional questions, please contact Lee Setter, Manager for Environmental Health and Safety, at Lee.Setter@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612.668.0308.

Please click here to view the Radon Testing reports.