Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the Unites States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Surgeon General’s office estimates that more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Kentucky leads the nation in new lung cancer incidences at 84.8 cases per 100,000 people while the national average is 54.6 per 100,000 people.  

To promote and improve health, the Northern Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences agents in Boone, Carroll, Kenton, and Grant counties presented a leadership lesson to 68 Extension Homemakers titled “Healthy Home, Body, and Mind” to facilitate the development of healthy habits to improve health.  The Grant County Agent Asa Conkwright focused detection of radon in the home, the effects of radon on the body, appropriate levels of radon and different obstacles in mediating the threat. Such topics included mitigation systems, understanding radon prevention company certifications, and the different specifications that houses can have that could potentially increase or decrease the risk of increased radon levels and cost of mediating the issue. A sample estimate for a basic radon mitigation system with the branding removed was provided to the participants.

Of the 68 homemakers 45 completed the post evaluation with 100% stating they understood what radon was, the dangers of exposure, and how to properly test their home for radon and 100% of participants reported they understood how radon mitigation systems worked and how to find out if the installing contractor was properly certified. After the lessons, a follow-up evaluation was sent to participants at a later date with 27 respondents. Of those who responded, five homemakers had tested their home for radon and three reported they used the information provided by the lesson to mediate the radon problem in their home.