A Program Update from Jim Faust, Indoor Environment Program Manager
By Margaret Henderson
In Idaho, National Radon Action Month started with a statewide news media release to every newspaper, and television and radio station that generated considerable coverage with stations requesting interviews and more local radon information.
As Jim Faust, Indoor Environment Program Manager, remarked on the success of this media approach (blitz), “I even had a television station come to my house on my day off and interview me in my front yard!”
In the spring of 2015, the program updated the radon zip code maps for future publication on the website so the public can browse the state map and look at their area or any area. The number of homes tested in that zip code will appear along with the percentage of homes that tested high in that zip code (at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA recommended action level).
Also, the program sent more than 150,000 direct mail postcards to homeowners in 12 counties with historically high radon levels. Jim says, “That always gets a good response. I’ve met with city and county building officials and several mayors in 13 counties around the state in high radon level areas just to inform them of the radon levels in their areas. I utilize the zip code maps to get my point across.”
Jim was asked to present to the State of Idaho Building Code Officials meeting, which is teleconferenced across the state. He described this presentation: “I presented the zip code maps for all the more populated areas in Idaho to show them what we’re finding. The zip code maps are an EXCELLENT way to present data. I kept it very low key and presented what we’ve been finding.” Jim also carried a continuous radon monitor with him in every meeting to show inspectors, who were receptive. He noted that at least one inspector in each meeting decided to purchase one to use at work.
For more information on these and other activities, contact:
Jim Faust
Indoor Environment Program Manager
Environmental Health Section
Community & Environmental Health
(208) 334-5717
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website: http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/EnvironmentalHealth/IndoorEnvironment/tabid/181/default.aspx
United States