kentucky radon awareness invisible, odorless, tasteless: kentucky radon awareness michael j. garen...
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KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Invisible, Odorless, Tasteless:Kentucky Radon Awareness
Radon Myth Busters!
Michael J. Garen © 2015
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Radon is a harmless gas.
Image: Clipart, 150130
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Radon is a harmless gas.
FALSE – Radon is a radioactive gas, released during the natural decay of the element uranium.
Radon is a Class A Human Carcinogen.
Radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless.
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
Image: Openclipart.org bnielsen
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FALSE - High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test for radon.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Scientists are not sure radon really is a problem.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
NO! YES!
Image: People-044-Talking-Bubblle,paleos-blog.blogspot.com
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Scientists are not sure radon really is a problem.
FALSE - Although scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all major health organizations agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: People-044-Talking-Bubblle,paleos-blog.blogspot.com
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
I have lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Clipart, 141208
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
I’ve lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.
FALSE - You will reduce your risk of lung cancer from radon when you reduce radon levels, even if you have lived with a radon problem for a long time.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Clipart, 141208
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Clipart 141219
Image: Clipart, 150128
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
FALSE - Radon testing is inexpensive and easy – it should take only a little of your time.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Radon test kits are free in Kentucky.
Image: Clipart 141219
Image: Clipart, 150128
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon test kits are not reliable and are difficult to find.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Clipart, 150128
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon test kits are not reliable and are difficult to find.
FALSE - Reliable radon test kits are available through the mail, in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Radon test kits are available for free in Kentucky.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Homes with radon problems cannot be fixed.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon, EPA 402/K-09/001, January 2009
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Homes with radon problems cannot be fixed.
FALSE - There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Radon levels can be readily lowered. Thousands of homeowners have already reduced radon levels in their homes. Call the state radon office for a list of contractors that have met EPA requirements or are state certified.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Steve Baczek, Architect, Fine Homebuilding 244, pp.86-87, May 14, 2014
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon only affects certain kinds of homes.
2015 National Radon Poster Contest, National Winner, 2nd Place, Hawaii, 1st Place, Teah, Kapolei, HI
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Radon only affects certain kinds of homes.
FALSE - House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, homes without basements.
2015 National Radon Poster Contest, National Winner, 2nd Place, Hawaii, 1st Place, Teah, Kapolei, HI
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
A neighbor’s test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Building Radon Out, EPA/402-K-01-002, April 2001
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
A neighbor’s test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FALSE - A neighbor’s radon test has no bearing on the radon level of your home. Radon levels vary from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test for radon.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Building Radon Out, EPA/402-K-01-002, April 2001
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Short-term tests can’t be used for making a decision about whether to reduce radon in your home.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
Image: Clipart, 150122
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Short-term tests can’t be used for making a decision about whether to reduce radon in your home.
Radon Myth Busters!True or False?
FALSE – A short-term test followed by a second short-term test can be used to decide whether to reduce radon levels in your home.
Image: Clipart, 150122
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
The program, Invisible, Odorless, Tasteless: Kentucky Radon Awareness, and Radon Myth Busters! were produced under a grant from the Kentucky Department for Public Health in partnership with the University of Kentucky Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.Michael J. Garen © 2015
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
ReferencesEnvironmental Protection Agency
A Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon, EPA 402-8-12-002, May 2012
Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon, EPA 402/K-13/002, September 2013Reducing Radon Risks, EPA 520/1-89-027, September 1992Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home, EPA 402/K-10-005, March 2013Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant Homes, EPA/402-k-01-002,
April 2001 (pdf)Radon: A Physician’s Guide, 402-K-93-008, September 1993EPA Map of Radon Zones, http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html
Pennsylvania Home with High Radon Levelhttp://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-10-08/news/8703160117_1_stanley-watras-radon-hot-spots-reading-pronghttp://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1100259/have-you-heard-the-story-of-stanley-watras-http://articles.mcall.com/1986-03-07/news/2509368_1_radon-levels-stanley-watras-uranium-orehttp://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/01/radon-may-be-radioactive-and-cause-cancer-but-can-it-set-off-alarms-in-a-nuclear-power-plant/
KentuckyRadon
Awareness
Beverly K. Miller, MArch, ArchitectAgriculture Extension Associate SeniorJanuary 2015
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