By Margaret Henderson
During the 2016 General Session, the Utah State Legislature appropriated a budget of $150,000 for the Radon Awareness Campaign for Fiscal Year 2017. According to the COBI 2016, published on the legislature’s website, “This is a 500 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2016 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $150,000 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 500 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2016 estimates.” The appropriation is made to the Departments of Health and Environmental Quality. (COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication.)
Eleanor Divver, the department’s Radon Coordinator commented on the appropriation saying “Yes, we received a $150,000 legislative funding for an educational campaign. The money goes through Utah Department of Health. The thought process was because they run many cancer awareness programs.”
The department is statutorily charged with performing duties in a Radon Awareness Campaign to develop a statewide electronic awareness campaign to educate the public regarding:
(1) the existence and prevalence of radon gas in buildings and structures;
(2) the health risks associated with radon gas;
(3) options for radon gas testing; and
(4) options for radon gas remediation.
(Amended by Chapter 451, 2015 General Session Effective 7/1/2015)
In fulfillment of this charge, a statewide electronic awareness campaign to educate the public regarding radon gas, including health risks, testing options, and remediation was created.
As noted in the COBI 2016 report:
“The Department of Health began the awareness campaign on January 2015. The media campaign consisted of a video describing the angers of radon gas and offering remediation solutions, static banner ads for placement on websites, and radio spots. Through May 2015 the video received over 69,000 views. Over 110,000 adults were exposed to the radio spot, and the online banner ads had a click through rate 128% higher than industry average.”
Numerous letters and email of support for the appropriation were received and posted to the legislative website. Many noted the public health risk of radon and noted that radon can be measured and mitigated successfully.
Utah Department of Environmental Quality indicates from survey results that 30% of the homes tested in Utah are at concentrations above the EPA’s recommended action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
For more information about radon in Utah, contact:
Eleanor Divver
Indoor Radon Coordinator
Phone: 801-536-0091
http://www.radon.utah.gov
Radon Information: 800-458-0145
United States