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Published on 01/03/18

Georgia students recognized for radon awareness posters

By Merritt Melancon

As part of a contest conducted by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s Radon Education Program, students from across the state created posters highlighting the dangers of radon, an odorless, colorless, flavorless radioactive gas that is present in some Georgia soils.

Almost 200 posters were submitted in the state-level competition, and three were selected to enter the National Radon Poster Contest, sponsored by the Conference of Radiation Control Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Charlotte Moser, a seventh-grade student at Clarke Middle School in Athens, Georgia, won first place for her horror movie-inspired poster of a radon cloud enveloping a castle.

Jeff Peek, an eighth-grade student from Stockbridge Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia, won second place for his hauntingly informative poster featuring a realistic skull.

Flor Campos-Robles, a fifth-grade student and Clarke County 4-H member from Athens, Georgia, won third place with her poster featuring a house that appears to be feeling under the weather and warns about the dangers of radon.

The UGA Extension Radon Education Program celebrates student artwork through the Radon Awareness Poster Contest each January in honor of National Radon Action Month. 

All three of this year’s winners will meet with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal in January to show him their posters and thank him for his proclamation recognizing January as National Radon Action Month.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can seep through home foundations and into homes, making the air unsafe for residents. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. In Georgia, homes in the northern counties are more likely to have high levels of radon, but all homes are susceptible.

Radon can be extracted from homes, but only if families know that they need remediation services. Radon testing is not a part of basic home inspections that homebuyers order when purchasing a home, but simple home radon tests are available from UGA Extension. To get a test kit, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit www.UGAradon.org.

UGA Extension uses the radon poster contest as a vehicle to educate people about the UGA Radon Education Program. Nine- to 14-year-olds across the state can design a poster to help alert the general public about the dangers of radon and how they can keep their families safe.

The posters can focus one of five themes:

  • What is radon?
  • Where does radon come from?
  • How does radon get into our homes?
  • Radon can cause lung cancer.
  • Test your home for radon.

The deadline for entries is usually in September. Teachers and parents can learn more about the contest at www.UGAradon.org.

Merritt Melancon is a public relations manager with UGA's Terry College of Business and previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Pamela R. Turner
Charlotte Moser, a seventh-grader from Clarke Middle School in Athens, Georgia, won first place for her horror movie-inspired poster of a radon cloud enveloping a castle in the 2017 poster contest held by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension's Radon Education Program. Flor Campos-Robles, a fifth-grade Clarke County 4-H member from Athens, Georgia, won third place with her poster featuring a house that appears to be feeling under weather and warns about the dangers of radon. Jeff Peek, an eighth-grader from Stockbridge Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia, won second place for his hauntingly informative poster featuring a realistic skull in the 2017 poster contest held by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension's Radon Education Program.
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