Elevated radon levels in Portland school buildings have mostly come down, according to officials at Portland Public Schools.
It’s been about two weeks since the district first announced high levels of the toxic gas at about 17 schools. That includes six rooms with levels high enough to require immediate action.
Portland Public says it’s been running the HVAC systems 24 hours a day in the nine rooms with the most radon. That brought the radon under control at all but one room. The district intends to keep running the HVAC systems in affected rooms with summer programs. Going forward, the Environmental Protection Agency has told school officials to use a tighter standard for radon concentrations. That means the district will have to address seven more school rooms.
Lead paint has also become a main concern for Portland Public. The district has closed the Buckman pool because of lead paint in the locker room.