From an interview with Becky Chenhall,
Radon Educator at the University of Georgia, College of Family & Consumer Sciences
By Margaret Henderson (CRCPD)
Through a grant from EPA to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs,
Georgia’s radon program is conducted by Radon Educators at the University of Georgia who perform outreach and education around the state. Mrs. Becky Chenhall, a program educator, has educated Georgians since the program’s inception in 2003. For over 11 years, the program has targeted the entire state’s population. Ms. Gabrielle Walters, also a Radon Educator, and Mrs. Chenhall field numerous daily inquiries including both telephone and emails and also conduct outreach programs for wide audience . The University of Georgia education program has a strategic approach that reaches all population groups in Georgia.
Although most of the excessive radon levels (4pCi/L or greater) occur in the northern one-third of the state, the program originates at the University of Georgia, which has excellent placement in Athens, for outreach to the entire state.
Some of the diverse outreach efforts include distributing radon health and testing information at:
- Tailgate sessions before University of Georgia football games;
- The 5K Run, “Free to Breathe,” through partnering with the Lung Cancer Partnership;
- Athens AME Church neighborhood meetings; and
- Youth Middle School in Loganville, GA, where they promote the radon poster contest.
It should be noted, this school boasts more than one national winner of the EPA poster contest. Mrs. Chenhall comments, “The poster contest is promoted at middle schools (for ages 9-14) and has good parent and teacher involvement. At one local poster contest, a mother learned about radon from her child’s poster, tested, found high levels and mitigated.”
To reach the medical community, the program displays exhibits at the Medical Fair in Atlanta, now for the second consecutive year. Medical students are recruited to practice in underserved areas of Georgia. This radon outreach targets the medical community and aims to promote radon reduction in rural areas of the state.
Another outreach with medical partners includes a partnership with the University of Georgia Pharmacy School, which includes a Smoking Cessation Program for students, staff and community members. As Mrs. Chenhall observes, “That is particularly important since radon, coupled with smoking, places individuals at higher risk for lung cancer.”
While many outreach activities occur in person, information is available through the website as well. Helpful guidance on “Radon Mitgators DO’s and DON’Ts” and a video on how to test give the public practical information are readily available online.
Since the program’s inception, Ms. Chenhall and other educators have now conducted more than 1,500 programs, reaching thousands of homeowners, students, parents, physicians, heath care workers, and various community groups in Georgia through this strategic approach.
For further information, contact:
University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/home-radon
Radon Educators:
Becky Chenhall
Address:
Walton County Extension
100 N. Broad Street
Monroe, GA 30655
E-Mail:
chenhall@uga.edu
Gabrielle Walters
228 Hoke Smith Annex
300 Carlton St.
Athens, GA 30602
E-Mail:
gab589@uga.edu
United States