By Margaret Henderson
Nevada State Cancer Plan 2016-2020 - Refining Strategies for the Future of Cancer Control in Nevada has been published recently and it includes radon as a health challenge and provides a blue print for action.
Susan Howe, program director, Nevada Radon Education Program of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, who provided expertise and assistance on the radon plan component, noted that this was the first time radon has been included in the state’s cancer plan. This was accomplished working with the Nevada Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the Nevada Cancer Coalition and cancer community stakeholders. Jamie Roice-Gomes, radon education coordinator, and Adrian Howe, radiation physicist, Radiation Control, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health also played major roles in this endeavor. Viewed as a major accomplishment, Susan hopes that it will lead to future program successes in educating the public on the need to test and mitigate high levels of indoor radon concentrations, thus reducing radon-caused lung cancer risks.
The plan maps goals and objectives in cancer control for the years 2016 through 2020. In the section defining “Cancer Profiles of Lung Cancer,” the plan states “Another preventable source of lung cancer is radon exposure, which contributes to an estimated 21,000 cases of lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.” It goes on to state the estimates for causality and death and notes, “Radon concentration cannot be determined without comprehensive testing.” Radon is identified as a risk factor for developing cancer in the section on “Primary Prevention.”
Goal 1.6 of the plan directly addresses radon goal, objectives and activities:
Decrease the average radon concentration within the state by 5%.
OBJECTIVES
- Increase the number of homes in Nevada tested for radon from 19,139 to 32,090.
- Of the homes that have elevated radon levels, increase the number mitigated from 708 to 1,400.
- Increase the number of newly constructed residential homes built using radon-resistant new construction techniques from 163 to 650.
ACTIVITIES
- Educate real estate industry professionals, health providers, municipalities, and policymakers about the radon health risk.
- Encourage realtors and real estate agencies to recommend radon testing as part of the home inspection process or during the real estate transaction.
- Conduct an annual campaign to educate Nevadans about the radon health risk, the importance of testing, how to obtain test kits and properly test their homes, the benefits of radon mitigation and radon-resistant new home construction, and how to find board-certified, state-licensed radon mitigation professionals.
- Advocate for policy to require radon mitigation to be conducted by certified, state-licensed radon professionals, and for policy to require that professional testing, especially in the case of real estate transactions are conducted by certified radon testers.
- Educate the building industry by promoting best practices in radon-resistant new home construction.
- Increase number of local governments that create and adopt a policy for radon-resistant new construction.
The Cancer Plan also suggests what individuals, Physician and Health Insurance Agencies, and Community or Faith-Based Organizations can do:
- Test your home for radon (kits can be acquired at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices) and fix radon problems.
- Recommend patients test their homes for radon and fix radon problems.
- Promote radon-resistant new construction, testing for radon, and fixing radon problems in your community.
To review the plan, visit
http://nevadacancercoalition.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2016-2020-NV-Comprehensive-Cancer-Conrol-Plan-FINAL1.pdf
For more information, contact:
Susan Howe, Program Director
Nevada Radon Education Program
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
4955 Energy Way
Reno, Nevada 89502
Telephone: 775-336-0248
Radon hotline: 888-RADON10 (888-723-6610)
Susan H. Howe, Radon Program Director
Website: http://www.radonnv.com/
United States