Winning with Radon
My name is Hayden. I am a sixth grader from Athens, GA. I entered a poster contest about testing your home for radon and won first place in the state and second place for the nation. I learned a lot about radon and how each year it kills more people than drunk driving. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Also, if you smoke, it can further increase your chances of getting lung cancer.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that can be found all over the United States. It is a natural occurring element that comes from the ground. Radon can seep through cracks or pipes and get into your home. The odorless, invisible gas gets trapped inside buildings and houses which can be dangerous to your health.
Testing is the only way to determine the level of radon in your home, school or building. Radon detection kits are not very expensive and can be purchased online, as well as at hardware stores and other retail outlets. The kits come with instructions that are easy to follow and should only take a few minutes of your time.
If you discover your home has high levels of radon, professionals can help reduce the amount of trapped radon and help you lower the risk of radon-induced lung cancer. You can also build new homes that are equipped to be radon-resistant.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsors a national poster contest each year for children between the ages of 9 and 14. The radon specialists need your help in spreading facts about radon. So get busy and spread the word that radon kills! Visit www.sosradon.org to learn more about radon and to gather information about the annual poster contest.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Would just like to add for more information The National Radon Safety Board is Here
http://www.nrsb.org/
I live in North Carolina and this is a huge problem here. Sometimes people live in their houses for years and don’t realize how much radon is leaking up through their basement. Have it checked! It’s fairly cheap and could save your life!
We actually had our home tested a few months ago and thankfully we were able to catch our leak before it caused us any problems. People should definitely have the test done, you might be surprised with what they find. Good luck!
Hayden you did a fantastic job on your poster along with the article you wrote! I am happy to see that young people accully know what radon is, most older people have no idea what radon gas is! You have done a wonderful job! Keep up the good work, and keep on educating people about radon gas and the dangers of it!