Radon claims the lives of over 20,000 Americans each year as the number one cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers (United States Environmental Protection Agency). According to Kentucky Health Facts/ Kentucky Cancer Registry (http://kentuckyhealthfacts.org/data/location/show.aspx?cat=1%2c2%2c3%2c5%2c8%2c11&loc=8 ), 50 per 100,000 Boone County residents die from lung cancer.  The U.S. Surgeon General and Environmental Protection Agency advise all Americans to test their homes for radon. Northern Kentucky counties are listed in the Zone 2 classification for radon indicating many homes may have unacceptable levels of radon, a class A carcinogen. 

Boone County Cooperative Extension Service presented “Got Radon? Why Care?” to 19 adult men and women representing 15 households in the area. The educational materials used for the sessions were developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, the Kentucky Cancer Program, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

During the program, participants observed how to use a test kit for accurate results, learned about mitigation systems, and discussed maintenance of mitigation systems. They also learned how to obtain a free home test kit from the local district health department.

Surveys completed immediately following the program showed that participants knew where to obtain a free test kit and describe how to use it, could list one or more characteristics of radon, and understood that cigarette smoking and exposure to radon  increased the risk for lung cancer.

A follow up survey was mailed to all households five months after the educational session. Results from the seven (47 percent) returned surveys revealed:

• Five (71 percent) tested their home for radon after the class
• Attendees shared information with 18 others
• One participant had a radon mitigation system installed in their home due to their test results and the information learned in the class.
• Two participants checked their mitigation systems to see if they needed to be serviced (which they had not previously done or understood how to do).
• One individual shared they were surprised to learn radon can hit one house and miss the next one. 

The Extension radon awareness programs and information is improving the environmental quality of homes and reducing the risk of lung cancer.  Research reported in the Lung Cancer Journal indicates that lung cancer costs patients $11,496 per month on average which includes hospitalization, emergency room visits, outpatient office visits, radiology procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacy-dispensed drugs. Sharing information about this cancer-causing element will continue to be important as Kentucky Cooperative Extension works to address the health challenges of Kentucky residents.