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CAMP BUTLER, Japan - Environmental specialists and public health professionals hosted open houses at Department of Defense Education Activity schools aboard several Marine camps on Okinawa Feb. 10-21.
During the open houses, members of the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Environmental Office and Navy public health professionals provided parents and teachers information and addressed questions about indoor air quality and radon gas.
The health and environmental experts shared facts about radon and details of the sampling Marine Corps and Naval Facilities Engineering Command performed for on-base DODEA schools.
“Radon gas is naturally-occurring and is found throughout the world,” said Joseph E. Vogel, MCB Camp Butler environmental officer. “In enclosed spaces, like buildings, radon gas can reach high levels. Contact with high levels of radon gas over time can impact our health. We’re committed to protecting indoor air quality.”
NAVFAC representatives sampled air quality for radon gas in 406 ground-floor classrooms during January and February. Approximately 70 classrooms require response actions for elevated radon gas levels.
To reduce radon gas levels within these rooms, NAVFAC will install new and adjust existing ventilation systems. Although Navy regulations allow up to two years to complete corrective action, NAVFAC and the DODEA Okinawa School District are working to address as many of the rooms as possible by August.
Prior to the open house meetings, affected DODEA schools sent letters home to the parents and sponsors of registered students. The letters provided assurance that the schools remain safe for teaching and learning until the mitigation work is complete. The letters also notified parents of the sampling, and indicated that the Marine Corps would share the sampling results with them.
“The open houses provided a forum to educate parents and allow them individual opportunities to ask us questions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Daut, radiation health specialist, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa.
“We truly appreciate how responsive and supportive the Marine Corps has been in helping to educate our employees and parents about radon and indoor air quality,” said DODEA Okinawa Superintendent Martha Brown. “The open houses were a great way for everyone to better understand the situation and have their questions answered by professionals.”
Parents and teachers who have questions regarding radon health risks can contact the Department of Public Health at the USNH Okinawa at 643-7555. For additional questions, contact the MCB Camp Butler Radon program manager at 645-0241.
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2012 18:28 |
| Story ID: | 84592 |
| Location: | CAMP BUTLER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Professionals discuss air quality aboard camps, by MAJ Lindsay Pirek, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
