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Group looks to mandate radon testing in schools

Right now the state's recommendation is to test schools every five years for radon; an odorless, invisible gas. A new bill looks to require that testing be done in public schools.

AUGUSTA, Maine — It's an odorless, invisible gas that comes from the ground. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and there are no testing requirements in Maine schools.

RELATED: Winter is the best time to test for radon, Maine CDC says

RELATED: New push for Mainers to test for radon in homes

There's a new push in Augusta to change that.

A public hearing was held Tuesday for LD 1079 which would require public schools to test for radon.

There is no way to detect radon unless you test for it.

Some asking at the hearing, what can be done about radon, if it's detected?

"Mitigation is essentially a process where you would take a pipe you would put it down below the slab," said Christy Crocker of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. The goal is to catch those radon gases in the pipe before they can permeate up into the building."

The Maine CDC's Radon Control Program recommends ground level classrooms are tested at least every 5 years.

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