Alabama Student Wins National Radon Poster Contest

Mitch Nolte from Anniston is the winner of the 2007 National Radon Action Month Poster Contest. He received top honors for his hand-drawn poster design and was recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Jan.16. Graem Cook from Huntsville won second place in the category of computer-generated posters.

The National Safety Council’s Radon Poster Contest, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is intended to raise awareness of radon and the importance of testing homes and fixing elevated levels.

Radon is a naturally occurring invisible, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air but can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. It originates from deposits of uranium in soil, rock and water.

One in 15 homes across the United States has elevated radon levels. With more than 20,000 deaths each year, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States and the number one cause among nonsmokers.

The EPA named the month of January National Radon Action Month to raise awareness about the seriousness of radon as a potential risk. In addition, Alabama Governor Bob Riley proclaimed January as National Radon Action Month in the state of Alabama.

Any home in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Shelby and Talladega counties could have elevated levels of radon. These counties have the highest potential for radon in Alabama.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Department of Public Health, in association with the EPA, are supporting efforts to encourage Americans to test their homes for radon, have elevated levels of radon reduced and have new homes built with radon-resistant features.

Short-term testing is he quickest way to determine if a potential problem exists. Charcoal canisters, electric ion detectors and alpha tract detectors are the most common long-term testing devices. Both short-term and long-term testing devices are easy to use and are relatively inexpensive. Short-term radon test kits can be purchased at Extension offices in the counties mentioned. They can be purchased for $6.50, which includes postage and lab analysis. After testing is completed, the kit is simply returned to the manufacturer for analysis. The analysis is included in the price of the kit.

For more information on radon in Alabama, visit the Alabama radon education program Web site: www.aces.edu/radon.

Posted by dreynold at January 30, 2007 10:40 AM | TrackBack