Detector installation aims to keep students, staff safe from dangerous gas
Radioactive, colorless, odorless, and dangerous - radon is not a hazard to be trifled with. This naturally occurring gas has wafted into many people’s everyday life without them even realizing it. However, indoor radon did not hit the headlines until 1984, after Stanley Watras, an electrical engineer at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant, kept setting off radiation detectors. Despite the fact that radon was discovered in the 1900s, people of the time did not realize its harmful effects. Through the years, increasing concern has been placed on this gas, leading to the development of radon detectors, as well as radon mitigation systems. West has taken precautionary measures as small devices have been installed around the building to help detect exposure, helping to protect the safety of students and staff.
Science teacher Kimberly Hoyle takes the threat seriously.
“Radon is known as a heavy gas because it is near the bottom of the Periodic table; this means it will stay closer to the ground,” she said. “Due to its unstable nucleus, the gas will release particles to become stable. These particles cause the element to be radioactive, and is the reason why it’s so dangerous to us.”
Some don’t have a proper understanding of how important detection of the element is.
“I don’t think that the general public is well educated on radon,” sophomore Persephone McDougal said. “I didn’t realize it was a problem until our school had the detectors placed around the building.”
One fact known about the element is how common it is throughout the state.
“Radon is really common in this area. Because of the geology of Oshkosh, there are large quantities of it residing in the ground,” science teacher Nicole Fischer said. “So it is common to find it in living spaces such as a basement. I would say this is the main spot that more people should have tested.”
There was some concern regarding the distraction of the detectors in class. However, many teachers have found it a valuable educational experience for their students.
“Several students had radon detection done at home so it was a very applicable class discussion,” Hoyle said. “The detectors were only a minor distraction on the first day that students noticed them. In my chemistry classes, it was actually a great ‘teachable moment’ since the detectors measure radioactive radon atoms and we were currently learning about radioactive materials.”
Some students would disagree with this notion, as they kept noticing the detectors even after the first day.
“I was very curious about the detectors at first. One day the devices showed up in our classrooms, some would be placed up against the wall and would be less noticeable,” sophomore Ethan Oey said. “However, some were more noticeable as they would be placed right in the middle of the room.”
Everyone agrees that the initial distraction is justified by the fact the school makes sure the students and staff are safe from exposure.
“I think that the placement could have been better in some cases, but I’m glad our school is taking the risk of radon exposure seriously,” McDougal said.
There still remains a possibility of radon being in everyday life, but West has taken a step to ensure safety to everyone attending the school by preventing exposure.
“Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer or other respiratory issues,” Hoyle said. “Since radon is radioactive, it emits small particles from its nuclei and if those particles are inhaled, they can cause a lot of damage to the delicate tissues in your lungs.”
Similar to many other radioactive elements, radon has many negative effects. But, Fischer argues that there is still a lot to be discovered regarding the properties of radon.
“Radioactivity has positives in general, however, I don’t believe they outweigh the negatives,” she said. “I am not sure what all radons applications are, but like many other radioactive elements, it can help advance the medical world. The possibilities are endless, as scientists are just scratching the surface of what radioactivity can do.”
By Allison Simmons
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 4
January 31st, 2022