R a d o n i n G e o r g i a

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1 R a d o n i n G e o r g i a GREP is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Planning and Environmental Management County Radon Programs The Georgia Radon Education Program works closely with University of Georgia Extension services across the state on a regular basis. Having a relationship with an organization with reach and a presence across the whole state helps to promote radon testing and schedule programs. Recently, Extension Agents in both Walton and Pickens Counties requested radon education programs for their citizens. We provided both programs. Our program in Pickens County was the first program we have had in that county in quite some time. Most of those in attendance had not tested their homes for radon before and were eager to learn how to ensure their homes had acceptable and healthy levels of radon. The program in Monroe County was slightly different in that several attendees were familiar with our program and some had tested before. The audience at that program came with questions on how often they should re-test their home, questions about their mitigation systems, and on radon in water. Dr. Uttam Saha, with the UGA Agriculture and Environmental Services Laboratory, provided a presentation on testing for radon in water as that is a service our program offers as well. Both of these programs provided great interaction with attendees who, in return, obtained knowledge on testing homes for radon. Working with UGA Extension provides us with excellent opportunities to connect and interact with people across the state while further promoting the program s message of reducing the rate of lung cancer by testing homes for radon.

2 Athens First AME Health Fair The annual Athens First AME health fair took place at the beginning of August and the Georgia Radon Education Program was there, yet again, with a booth promoting radon awareness. Our program has been invited to this event for several years in a row and it is a great way to be visible within our local community. We provided health fair attendees with brochures on testing for radon and its importance, along with information promoting our participation in the National Radon Poster Contest since many children attended the health fair with their families. Many attendees recognized the program from years past and appreciated the continued education and outreach we provide. The Athens First AME Health Fair is an event we can count on every year to provide wonderful services and education to the Athens-Clarke County area. Barrow Elementary School Radon Program Like most years, the Georgia Radon Education Program s participation in the National Radon Poster Contest led to interest in radon programs for schools. The program was contacted to provide a radon program for students at Barrow County Elementary as many of them were planning on competing in the poster contest. The great thing about radon programs with students is that there really is not a difference in the questions asked compared to a program full of adults. The 5th grade students asked about granite countertops influencing radon in homes, how much mitigation costs, how to prevent radon from getting into the home, and several other questions adults regularly ask. The students were excited about putting their science knowledge to the test in order to better understand radon and its characteristics. We hope to see that excitement continue through the poster contest and any future opportunities they have to speak to their families about the importance of having their homes tested.

3 R a d o n O u t r e a c h PROGRAM CONTACTS Programs-Meetings 3 Participants 36 Materials Distributed 60 Exhibits-Events 1 Participants 300 Materials Distributed 200 OTHER CONTACTS Contacts 93 Medical Professionals Home Builders Realtors 3 Consumer Contacts 90 KIT USAGE DATA Kits Distributed 466 Results Received 212 > 4.0 pci/l 60 < 4.0 pci/l 226 Incomplete 26 % > 4.0 pci/l 30% Highest Level 13.9 pci/l MITIGATION DATA RRNC 2 Mitigations 3 Mitigation Referreals 70 MEDIA IMPRESSIONS Radio Listeners Television Viewers Newspaper 6 Circulation 250,000 Newsletter 1 Distribution 47 Local Web Hits 4 GA SIRG Web Hits TOTAL IMPRESSIONS 1Other includes radon education/results of former educators & county FACS/4-H Agents. 2Reported annually by Southface and building professionals 3Mitigation & RRNCs completed by Certified Mitigators are reported annually. 4Began tracking Jan 1, Web hits for are shared equally among the radon educators.

4 R a d o n O u t r e a c h PROGRAM CONTACTS Hall DeKalb Gwinnett Elbert Walton Southface Other 1 s Programs / Meetings , ,717 Participants 10,129 4,335 15,112 3,866 23,080 17,946 2,099 76,567 Materials Distributed 18,362 11,441 15,887 6,595 46,547 9, ,091 Exhibits or Events Participants 48,779 6, ,287 11, ,033 13,798 2, ,429 Materials Distributed 105,050 8,947 50,145 8,057 26,470 1,296 1, ,311 OTHER CONTACTS Hall DeKalb Gwinnett Elbert Walton Southface Other s Direct Contacts 8,383 1,385 1, ,507 12, ,286 Medical professionals ,857 Home builders , ,945 Realtors ,867 Consumer Contacts 6,845 1, ,015 1, ,617 KIT USAGE DATA Hall DeKalb Gwinnett Elbert Walton Southface Other s Kits Distributed 11,732 4,275 7,895 2,893 12,183 5,192 4,600 48,770 Test Results Received 4,984 1,622 2,477 1,354 6,309 1, ,655 Highest Level MITIGATION DATA Hall DeKalb Gwinnett Elbert Walton Southface Other s Mitigation Referrals 1, ,688 Mitigations 2 6,451 RRNC 3 1,480 MEDIA IMPRESSIONS Hall DeKalb Gwinnett Elbert Walton Southface Other s Radio Outreach , ,503 Listening Audience 4,847,000 3,670,000 10,000 4,020,000 2,693,000 2, ,000 15,619,000 TV Outreach ,654 Viewing Audience 25,170,100 12,733,000 73,981,740 15,080 27,894,200 1,328,000 8,385, ,507,120 Newspaper Outreach Circulation 2,201,200 3,223,000 1,304, ,800 3,545, ,500 10,498,766 Newsletter Outreach Distribution 179, ,746 9,215 1,832, ,048 6,054 2,947,009 Local Web Hits ,044 20, , ,662 State Web Hits 6 79,037 51, ,333 TOTAL IMPRESSIONS 32,413,542 19,643,100 75,349,710 4,214,902 35,992,736 2,284,344 8,837, ,735,888 1Other includes radon education/results of former radon educators and county FACS/4-H Agents. 2Reported annually by Southface and building professionals 3Certified GA mitigators reported their mitigations & RRNCs annually through Began tracking Jan. 1, UGA Radon Program web hits are shared equally among the 5 radon educators

5 RADON RESOURCES & CONTACTS Georgia Indoor Radon Grant Administration Adriane Wood, Grant Coordinator Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Planning and Environmental Management 479 Cherry Street, Macon, GA Radon Hotline Numbers National Hotlines Kansas State University / EPA SOS-RADON ( ) 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday Friday National Hispanic Indoor Air Quality The Radon Fix It Line: (National Safety Program) Get live help for your radon questions RADON ( )* Radon Fix-It Hotline General information on reducing radon levels * Safe Drinking Water Hotline * Operated by Kansas State University in partnership with EPA The Georgia Radon Education Program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Planning and Environmental Management, in partnership with the University of Georgia College of Family & Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension. Dr. Pamela R. Turner, Director prturner@uga.edu UGA Radon Program Team Like us on Facebook! Gabrielle Dean, Extension Educator gab589@uga.edu