Alabama Radon Education Program Reaching New Audiences and Saving Lives

Alabama Cooperative Extension System agents are working to educate citizens about the potential dangers of radon in homes, schools, and offices. The Radon Education Program, a partnership of Extension, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also teaches homeowners how to test for radon and the importance of fixing their homes if elevated radon levels are found.

Extension’s Radon Education Program has now reached more than a million people through numerous activities including exhibits and programming. These contacts have resulted in 1,628 homes mitigated; 2,336 homes tested in real estate transactions; 2,663 homes built radon ready; and more than 23,000 radon test kits distributed. Six cities have also added radon control to their building controls.

Radon is a particular concern in North Alabama where 15 counties are located in Radon Zone 1 and are considered to have the highest potential for elevated radon levels. In three of these North Alabama counties, about one of every three homes tested shows high levels of radon.

At a recent home show attended by more than 15,000 people in the area, Extension agents staffed a radon booth and sold more than 350 radon test kits. With 45 percent of the test kits used by homeowners, 24 percent revealed elevated levels of radon.

In addition to making presentations to homeowners, Extension agents provide radon information to contractors, realtors, and others in the home building industry as well as county commissioners, senior adults, and health care professionals. Radon educational materials and free test kits are also distributed through newborn programs at county hospitals, and radon exhibits have been placed in banks, libraries, and medical offices.

Alabama was one of four states to receive the Radon Leaders Saving Lives Award from EPA in 2007. Noted for its National Radon Action Month activities and numbers of proclamations in January 2007, Alabama Extension was asked by EPA to help the rest of the nation prepare for Radon Action Month in 2008 by showcasing its programming ideas in a national webinar.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.