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ALABAMA'S EXTENSION RADON PROGRAM RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF NATION'S BEST

"One of the nation’s best."

That’s how the United States Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) describes Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Radon Awareness Program.

The program is one of only three educational programs in the nation recognized as a "Natural Resources and Environmental Management Flagship Program."

In bestowing the award, CSREES described the program as a model for natural resources and environmental education nationwide.

Although the Radon Awareness Program is administered statewide, it’s primarily aimed at 15 counties in North Alabama considered at the highest risk for radon exposure. It’s primary goal is to educate homeowners, real estate agents, builders and building code inspectors about the health risks associated with radon exposure.

While homeowners and prospective homeowners are encouraged to test for radon emission levels in the home, the program aims to educate builders and building code inspectors about the strong need to introduce radon-mitigation devices as a routine feature of home construction.

Through extensive use of public service announcements and news releases, the program already has reached millions of residents with radon-related education. Thousands more have been reached through one-to-one contacts with local radon educators, seminars provided to real estate agents, homeowners, municipal and building code officials and displays set up in malls, fairs and other public places. The program has also worked extensively through local civic groups as well as 4-H and scouting clubs.

As a result of the program, almost 2,250 homes have been tested for radon, with 482 dwellings – almost 22 percent – showing elevated levels of the gas. The majority of homes with elevated levels have been or are undergoing mitigation or are being tested over a longer term.

Prior to Extension’s Awareness Program, no major effort was conducted in Alabama to reach residents in regions with high radon levels.

While another state agency conducted a limited radon training program for more than 11 years, the program effort reached only 25 percent of those reached by the Extension System in only 28 months.

The Radon Awareness Program is considered unique because of its extensive level of support at the county level, says Dr. Jesse LaPrade, the Extension environmental specialist who administers the statewide program. At least one Extension agent in each of the 15 high-risk counties spends part of his/her time working with the program.

"From the standpoint of radon awareness, this program truly is unique because of the strong support it’s gotten both from agents and especially from the Extension System’s two cooperating universities: Alabama A&M and Auburn University," LaPrade says.

Though it's administered through the Cooperative Extension System, the Radon Awareness Program is actually a partnership involving the University of Alabama, the American Lung Association, the Southern Regional Radon Training Center and the Alabama Department of Public Health, which administers the principal financial support for the program.

SOURCE: JIM LANGCUSTER, Extension Communications Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-5686