For immediate release January 18, 2006

JANUARY IS RADON ACTION MONTH
ANDERSON COUNTY SEVENTH GRADER HELPS RAISE NATIONAL AWARENESS
WITH WINNING ENTRY IN EPA POSTER CONTEST

Nashville, Tenn. - The artwork of Tennessee seventh-grade student Andrew Swisher is helping raise awareness about Radon Action Month and the importance of testing for radon in the home.

Swisher, a student at Norris Middle School in Anderson County, will travel to Washington, D.C., on January 27 to be recognized as the winner of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radon Action Month Poster Contest. Swisher's winning artwork is being featured on a poster promoting awareness about the importance of radon testing and taking action to address radon problems.

To view Andrew Swisher's winning artwork, visit: www.tdec.net/apc/radon/posterwinner

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can seep into your home through cracks and openings in the foundation. You can't see it, taste it, or smell it, but in concentrated levels radon can pose a threat to human health and is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, second only to tobacco smoke.

"Testing for radon is inexpensive and easy, and it's important because its presence is so unpredictable," said Jackie Waynick, Radon Program Manager for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified company to do the testing for you."

Radon can be found all over the U.S., and it can get into any type of building. EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor and also recommends testing in schools. Radon problems can be addressed by several proven methods, including radon reduction systems that can reduce radon levels by up to 99 percent. Radon-resistant construction techniques can also be effective in preventing radon entry in new construction.

The best time to conduct short-term tests is during consistently cold weather, so the Department of Environment and Conservation urges Tennesseans to do home testing before spring arrives. In areas of karst geology, a 12-month test is recommended when possible as radon levels in structures located in these areas can vary significantly.

Radon test kits are available in many hardware stores, from the University of Tennessee Extension Office in each county, and through the American Lung Association. For a list of UT Extension Office locations, visit www.utextension.utk.edu and click on "Local Offices." Or contact the American Lung Association of Tennessee at (615) 329-1151 or 1-800-432-5864.

For more information about radon, call the Department of Environment and Conservation's Radon Program Hotline at 1-800-232-1139, or visit EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/radon where you can download "A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon" in English or Spanish. The EPA also provides a National Radon Information Line at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).

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For more information contact:

Dana Coleman
(615) 253-1916 (Office)