All 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as many tribes and local governments, establish health and safety standards for licensed child care. This report discusses how state laws and regulations address one pollutant that may pose a health hazard at some child care facilities: Radon.
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon gas can become concentrated indoors, and elevated levels have been found in buildings in every state. The only way to know the radon level in a building is to test the building – thus, policymakers can take an important step in protecting the health of children and staff by requiring radon testing in licensed child care facilities. Radon in Child Care: Review of State Policies supports such efforts by describing state policies that already require radon testing and mitigation and by highlighting key considerations for future policy development.