1. Utah Cancer Action Network
Primary Prevention
REDUCING THE RISK FACTORS
THAT LEAD TO CANCER
Success
Ever heard of someone who has lung cancer, but has never smoked? The Utah County Health
Department, Habitat for Humanity Utah County, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality
aim to reduce lung cancer caused by exposure to radon gas.
Teaching the Public
about Radon Gas
Of course, not everyone whose home has The Utah County Health Department
high levels of radon gas will get lung (UCHD) and Habitat for Humanity of Utah
cancer, just like not all smokers will get County are partnering with the Utah
lung cancer. But, if there is a gas inside Department of Environmental Quality
your home that you know can cause lung (DEQ), Division of Radiation Control.
cancer, would you want to roll the dice and Their goal is to increase public awareness
see if your number comes up? of radon and the relationship between
indoor radon gas and lung cancer. They
What is radon gas? Most people have heard encourage Radon Resistant New
of carbon monoxide gas, but not radon. Construction (RRNC) because it’s easier to
Radon is an odorless, colorless, gas and is install a system when you are building a
the second leading cause of lung cancer home than to retrofit an existing home.
(behind smoking). It is a naturally occurring They encourage those who haven’t tested
radioactive gas that comes from uranium their apartment or home to do so by
How radon enters a house. Image courtesy of
decay in rocks and soil. offering education and low-cost test kits. Natural Resources Canada.
They also recommend actions to take when
test results are high (over 4.0 pCi/L).
Continued on other side
Do you have a success story?
Members of the Utah Cancer Action Network do great work that results in fewer cancer cases, fewer
cancer-related deaths, and a better quality of life—and we want to hear about it! Submit a one-page
success story about a project your organization has worked on, and each month we’ll feature a different
story on the UCAN website (www.UCAN.cc).
To find out how to submit your story, contact Kristi Smith at 801.538.6190 or kwilcoxson@utah.gov.

2. Radon is the second R AISING
leading cause of lung A WARENESS
ABOUT R ADON
cancer
Researchers estimate radon causes 21,000 lung
cancer deaths each year1.
Continued from front page installs radon mitigation materials about radon to
Together DEQ, UCHD, and systems in any existing increase public awareness of
Habitat for Humanity of Utah homes it renovates. what radon gas is and how to
County promote radon test homes for it.
awareness through several Habitat for Humanity
activities. educates the public through a The UCHD sold 93 test kits The Utah County
radon display in their Restore as of January 2012. They Health Department,
The DEQ’s Radon Restyle store during National don’t just sell test kits, but Habitat for Humanity of
Information Specialist, Radon Awareness Month spend time educating those Utah County, and Utah
Christine Keyser, trained 13 (January), and stocks low- who purchase them. Staff
Department of
agents from Coldwell Banker cost test kits and educational demonstrate how to use a test
Environmental Quality
Real Estate in Orem in an brochures year-round. As of kit, explain what a radon
all put a lot of time and
RRNC continuing education January 2012, Habitat for mitigation system is and how
Humanity had sold 146 test it is installed, and provide a effort into this project.
course. To find out more about
kits. list of certified radon
mitigators. Staff also any of the activities
“We encourage them here, please contact
UCHD’s Environmental provided education materials
[realtors] to test the one of the following:
Health Educator, Andrea to 700 parents in the Eagle
homes they sell for
Jensen, gave four Mountain area.
radon gas. What an Utah County Health
presentations about the
added bonus to know Department
National Radon Poster The DEQ and UCHD
that your real estate
Contest to area elementary participated in Capitol Steps Andrea Jensen,
agent is looking out
schools, reaching a total of to Action, a radon education (801) 851-7509
for your health!”
- Christine Keyser 628 students. She sent a note rally on the steps of the Utah
home with each student, State Capitol. Two local Habitat for Humanity of
Radon testing is not required encouraging parents to test television stations covered Utah County
in Utah for a real estate their home for radon. They the event. Kena Matthews
transaction. received 20 posters for the (801) 344-8527 x 103
contest. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Utah Cancer Connection
Habitat for Humanity of place winners statewide included a radon article, Utah Department of
Utah County’s Executive receive cash awards, and the Boogey Man in Your Environmental Quality
Director, Kena Matthews, overall state winner receives Basement, in the January Christine Keyser
says the organization is $500 for their school. 2012 issue. The article (801) 536-0091
building all of its homes included the story of a
radon resistant, and also The UCHD also distributed woman who died of lung
more than 1,000 educational cancer caused by radon.
The Environmental Protection Agency provides state and local organizations with ideas for
several educational activities in the National Radon Action Month Event Planning Kit. Ideas
include:
Energize partners and stakeholders by building a radon coalition or recognizing radon
champions
Engage with community leaders by asking the mayor to issue a radon proclamation or
connecting with local businesses and utilities to promote radon awareness
Work with the media to promote radon awareness by writing a press release, opinion
editorial, or letter to the editor
For these ideas and many, many, more check out the National Radon Action Month Event
Planning Kit online at http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/nram/event_planning_kit.pdf.
1
Environmental Protection Agency. Health Risks. Radon. Accessed April 19, 2012 at http://www.epa.gov/radon/
healthrisks.html.