In Colorado, it has been estimated that 50% of homes have the potential for concentrations of indoor radon greater than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), the level at which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests remedial action be taken. The estimated percentage of homes with high radon concentrations was calculated based on actual indoor measurements of radon collected by the state from private test kit companies. From 2005-2012, approximately 140,000 home radon tests were reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).
There is a potential for all homes in Colorado to have some level of radon. Colorado addresses the sizeable challenge by conducting numerous outreach and educational activities and providing a website, www.coloradoradon.info The website lists resources ranging from videos, such as— “Radon: The Invisible Killer” and “Radon from a Physician’s Perspective”— to graphic illustrations such as the Colorado Radon Zone Map. The website also provides links to information for those who may need financial assistance to mitigate their homes for radon. The website is a one-stop resource center for anyone in Colorado who has concerns about radon.
Chrystine Kelley, the state’s Radon Program Manager, is quick to point out, “We conduct outreach programs along the front range of Colorado, but to cover the needs of the whole state, we rely on the efforts of our local sub-grantees who receive a portion of our EPA State Indoor Radon Grant funds.”
Currently, there are 17 sub-grantees that CDPHE works with to meet the various needs of Colorado communities. These sub-grants are awarded to entities such as local health departments, public health nurses, non-profit organizations, and city and county governments. Within her geographic area on the front range of Colorado, CDPHE provides educational outreach and conducts presentations at events such health fairs, meetings with homeowners associations, building and construction organizations, and real estate and inspector organizations. She works with a variety of organizations, including the Colorado Cancer Coalition and CDPHE’s Health Equity and Environmental Justice Workgroup. She has even done outreach to local schools.
The sub-grantees provide a wide array of services through the awards from the state Radon Program that Chrys oversees. Among the sub-grantees are Summit County and Las Animas/Huerfano County. Summit County distributed 55 short-term radon test kits, advertised in a local newspaper on six occasions, and assisted Summit County High School students with their Radon Science project. Las Animas/Huerfano Counties set up radon displays in their health departments, worked on their Radon website and Facebook pages, and placed advertisements and articles in the local papers during January 2014, Radon Month.
Though Colorado residents face a high potential risk from radon, as the state’s Radon Program Manager, Chrys stays active in reaching out to residents to make them aware of the risks they face from radon.
Based on an interview with:
Chrystine (Chrys) Kelley, Radon Program Manager
Affiliation: Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Address: 4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S., Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-692-3442
Fax: 303-759-5355
Website: www.coloradoradon.info
United States