The Kentucky Cancer Consortium’s blueprint and action plan for “cancer prevention and control by 2022,” includes radon partners, Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals and the Kentucky Radon Program.
Radon is addressed in two major goals of the plan, Goals 3 and 8:
• Prevention - Goal 3: Reduce the incidence and mortality rates of cancers related to environmental carcinogens, with a focus on radon.
• Goal 8: Screening and Early Detection - Reduce lung cancer mortality and increase early detection through screening.
Radon “Policy, Systems, and Environmental Changes” enumerates actions that can be taken to promote testing, mitigation, radon resistant new construction, education and data sharing. Some of the action items are:
• Encourage agencies and organizations to report radon testing and mitigation every five years to the state radon program.
• Encourage agencies and organizations to report the number of Radon Resistant New Constructions (RRNC).
• Promote efforts to incentivize radon mitigation retrofitting of existing buildings.
• Encourage building code changes/enforcement to require radon reduction venting in new construction.
• Collaborate with real estate firms to test for radon early in the selling process.
• Identify gaps and barriers related to radon policies and advocate for addressing those gaps and barriers.
• Disseminate education around evidence-based policies, systems and environmental changes for workers and communities exposed to radon.
• Share data regarding certified radon mitigators, measurement specialists and certified labs.
Suggestions for Communication/Education include:
• Support the Kentucky Radon Program in their efforts to increase public awareness of the potential dangers of high radon levels in homes and workplaces.
• Promote development of educational materials directed towards home builders, home inspectors and realtors.
• Encourage Kentuckians to test their home for radon through short-term kits available through the Kentucky Radon Program.
• Promote notification and disclosure of radon information as part of the property transfer process.
• Educate the public on the risks of high radon levels and the benefits of mitigation and the EPA recommended action levels.
• Educate the public on low cost mitigation assistance/opportunities.
• Ensure that educational radon materials are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
• Identify advocacy channels to promote radon education, awareness and prevention.
• Encourage development and dissemination of information regarding radon policies and education to radon professionals.
• Encourage home builders and realtors to educate clients regarding radon mitigation and RRNC.
The plan also includes actions for Health Care Professionals, Worksite Wellness and Insurers and a section on Data & Research
Data and Research suggestions are:
• Collect and analyze radon testing and mitigation data every five years.
• Collect and analyze data on the number of RRRNC.
• Collect and analyze data on the number of homes and buildings mitigated with levels above 4pCi/L.
• Encourage lung cancer patients and their families to test their homes for radon.
• Promote research focused on reducing barriers associated with radon mitigation costs (ie. tax credits, low costs loans, etc.).
• Promote continued research between the synergistic effect of radon, tobacco use and secondhand smoke
Source:
www.KyCancerC.org
United States