Additional air quality tests in Washougal have revealed elevated levels of radon gas in two more city buildings.
Charcoal packet tests conducted April 20-22 detected elevated levels of the gas in the East County Social Services building, 1702 C St., and the building inspection office at Durgan and C streets.
Tests were also conducted in the fire department, police department, public works building and the senior center/community center. All of the findings were below the national indoor average level of 1.3 picoCuries of radiation per liter (pCi/L) of air. Results from tests in the library should be back later this week, Mayor Sean Guard said.
Mitigation work in City Hall, 1701 C St., wrapped up Tuesday, Guard said. The company hired by the city, Cascade Radon Inc. of Portland, will spend the next couple days re-testing areas in the building. Guard said he hopes to move employees back into their City Hall offices by Monday.
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Radon is a natural component in soil gases. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to radon can cause lung cancer.
Testing in Washougal City Hall earlier this month measured radon levels between 11 pCi/L and 26 pCi/L, with the highest concentration in a closed basement storage area. Additional tests in areas near the basement floor revealed levels of 37 pCi/L and 52 pCi/L. The EPA suggests levels below 4 pCi/L.
Tests last week measured levels between 4 pCi/L and 10 pCi/L in the city’s social services building and 6 pCi/L to 9 pCi/L in the building inspectors office. Employees in those buildings have not been moved to other buildings, Guard said. Guard will sign a contract amendment with Cascade Radon Inc. to begin construction to mitigate those buildings this week.
The company has installed ventilation systems beneath the concrete floors in the City Hall basement to remove the gas before it enters the building, Guard said. The city is also purchasing permanent testing units to be placed in buildings with elevated radon gas levels.
The test results have sparked concern throughout the city, and hardware stores have sold out of testing units in the days since the news broke, Guard said.
Washougal School District Superintendent Teresa Baldwin said district administrators are developing a plan to test school buildings. Baldwin said district officials have not decided when the tests will take place or if all buildings will be tested.
The city has also ordered six testing units that will be loaned to residents and business owners who cannot find the tests or cannot afford to purchase the units, Guard said. The fire department will check-out the units to community members for three to four days at no cost. The units should be available later this week, Guard said.
