Environmental Risk Factors
- Florida State University closed down a building that, some faculty members say, has radon and black mold.
- These issues have been reported by people working in the building since the early 2000s, and multiple people employed there have developed cancer and died.
- The closure was prompted by a 129-page-long report compiled by faculty members with information about the working conditions inside the building.
COVID has brought extra attention to the importance of ventilation and air quality, and after a report written by faculty members pointed to "serious health concerns," FSU decided to close its Sandels building. The report noted poor air quality, potential chemical exposure, and dangerously high levels of radon and black mold.
Read MoreThe faculty members' report was 129 pages long. It included emails, maps, photos, and testimonies from people who have worked inside the building. The report details efforts that faculty and staff made to make the university aware of the building's conditions dating back to the early 2000s. The report was mostly concerned with black mold and radon, and many of the people who have complained to the university over the past 20 years have described black particles falling from the ventilation system and accumulating on surfaces.
A deeper look at the impact of environment on cancer risk.
FSU will conduct a "thorough environmental review" of the conditions inside the building, including radon level measurements. The Tallahassee Democrat asked the FSU administration if they wanted the broader university community to know about the reports. "The health and safety of the campus community is the university's top priority," a spokesperson responded. "We are in the process of gathering information and conducting a thorough environmental review of the building to inform and determine our next course of action. The building will remain closed until further notice."
What Is Radon?
When most people think about lung cancer risk factors, cigarettes top the list. But while smoking is the top cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S., there is a second leading cause that doesn’t get enough attention: radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that lurks beneath as many as one in 15 houses in the U.S.
The good news: "Like lung cancer caused by tobacco smoking, lung cancer caused by exposure to high levels of radon is preventable," Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health for the American Lung Association, tells SurvivorNet.
Where Does Radon Come From?
Radon is odorless and invisible, and it is produced by elements found in rocks and soil. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are caused by radon exposure.
Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels may be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on soil rich in the elements uranium, thorium, and radium. Basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels because of their closeness to the ground.
Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles, the NCI says. When inhaled, they can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.
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