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INTEROFFICE MEMO #2
| DATE: |
6 MONTHS LATER |
| TO: |
CHEMICAL INVESTGATIONS GROUP |
| FROM: |
DR. I. M. NOTAQUACK
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY |
| SUBJECT: |
MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE CITIZEN FAMILY |
| CC: |
MEDICAL INVESTIGATIONS GROUP |
Dear Investigators,
Six months have elapsed. The Citizens have now had the southern-facing exterior wall removed in order to be rid of any potential black mold. Sally still has the symptoms mentioned in Interoffice Memo # 1, but she also has additional symptoms that are disrupting her life. Sally cringes when she has to brush her hair because it is falling out by the handfuls. Her toothache has progressed from jaw pain to a severe earache. Sally no longer takes the allergy medication and she is increasingly thirsty. Her nails are cracked with tiny white horizontal lines across them. Sally’s family physician has just referred her to an oncologist.
Sally and Bob’s new home sits on the hilltop overlooking the mountains. Although they had soil brought in and a new lawn installed, the house sits on granite bedrock located five feet below the topsoil. The house was built on a concrete slab. They have a single room in the lower floor that they use as a family room. The bottom floor is surrounded with cement cinder blocks. The facade of the house is covered with metamorphic rock from the local quarry. Dual-pane windows were installed on every exterior window. The family drinking water comes from a well that was drilled into a large underground aquifer.
The Environmental Management Group is still evaluating black mold as the potential source for Sally’s illnesses. However, the EPA respectfully requests your assistance in evaluating a second potential source for Sally’s symptoms—radon. Fearful of radon poisoning, Sally bought a small $10 radon test kit. The indoor radon level was 4.5 picocuries per liter of air.
You will research, analyze, and synthesize information about radon. You will create an argumentation around radon seepage into the Citizen home. Use the Showing Evidence Tool to compile evidence that supports or refutes this claim: Radon is diffused throughout the Citizen home and is the primary indoor air pollutant. You need to find evidence that supports or refutes the claim about radon gas and provide evidence stating a possible source of the radon. Again, you are responsible for evaluating, synthesizing, and analyzing Web sites to find evidence that supports or refutes the claim.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely,
Dr. I. M. Notaquack
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