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Alabama Student Wins National Radon Poster Contest

Release Date: 01/10/2007
Contact Information: Laura Niles, 404-562-8353, niles.laura@epa.gov

(ATLANTA – January 10, 2007) EPA announced today that Mitch Nolte from Anniston, Ala., is the winner of the 2007 National Radon Action Month Poster Contest. He received top honors for his hand-drawn poster design, and will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on January 16. Another student from Huntsville, Ala., Graem Cook won second place in the category of computer-generated posters.

The National Safety Council’s Radon Poster Contest, conducted in partnership with EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture, is intended to raise awareness of radon and the importance of testing homes and fixing elevated levels. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but which can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. It originates from deposits of uranium in soil, rock and water.

One in 15 homes across the United States has elevated radon levels. With more than 20,000 deaths each year, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States and the number one cause among non-smokers. The U.S. Surgeon General’s office recommends that all Americans test their homes for radon. Reliable radon tests can be purchased from some local hardware stores or from the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON. For certified radon testers or mitigation professionals, please visit https://www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html

EPA has named the month of January National Radon Action Month to raise awareness about the seriousness of radon as a potential health risk. January will be filled with activities on the local and national level to promote awareness of the dangers of elevated levels of radon gas in homes, schools and other frequented enclosed areas. For more information on National Radon Action Month activities in your area, visit www.epa.gov/radon/rnactionmonth.html.

To learn more about radon, call 1-800-55 RADON or visit www.epa.gov/radon.