By Margaret Henderson
During January 2016, Kansas Radon Action Month was sponsored by the Kansas Radon Program and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in conjunction with the National Radon Action Month (NRAM), sponsored nationally by the EPA. Using public service announcements and extended media coverage, KDHE advanced the message that homes should be tested for radon.
The Kansas Governor’s proclamation of January 14, 2016, noted that KDHE encourages Kansans to test for radon gas. It explains “About one out of every three radon measurements performed in Kansas are elevated, being above 4 pCi/L. Some areas have higher levels than others, though elevated levels of radon have been detected in every county in the state. As many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. has elevated radon levels that often go undetected because of a lack of testing.”
News media coverage included the Great Bend Tribune, writing, “January is Kansas Radon Action Month,” http://www.gbtribune.com/section/69/article/92537/ and an announcement by Kansas State University. Other coverage included articles published by:
- infozine.com http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/63587/
- Belleville Telescope http://thebellevilletelescope.com/articles/2013/12/31/january-kansas-radon-action-month
- Miami County Republic http://www.republic-online.com/graphic-online/opinion/article_07b37468-2b30-5ad2-b462-e00aa51b3b3a.html; and
- KFDI, 101.3 FM http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kfdi/news/January-proclaimed-Kansas-Radon-Acition-Month-365660871.html .
Television and radio public service messages aired beginning January 15 and will continue through March 15, 2016, in association with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB). These television and radio spots lead to increased interest in residential radon testing by Kansas residents. Two new radon television spots (a 30-sec English and a 30-sec Spanish spot) were produced in 2015, which can be viewed at http://www.kansasradonprogram.org.
For additional information, contact the Kansas Radon Hotline at 800-693-KDHE (800-693-5343).
United States