2012 DELAWARE RADON POSTER CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Delaware's Division of Public Health announced today the 2012 Delaware winners for the National Radon Action Month poster contest. A total of 130 entries from participants ages 9-13 were reviewed; the most entries received by DPH in the annual contest.

Contest entrants included children enrolled in a public, private or home school, and members of scouting organizations and student clubs. The contest is designed to raise awareness among the school age population on the importance of radon testing and to inform people of the danger of radon in their homes.

Artwork for the Delaware contest was received at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) radon program office from Jan. 1 - March 31, 2012.

The 2012 Delaware winners are:

• Jeong-woo Lim, Linden Hill Elementary School, Wilmington, * Test Your Home for Killer Radon, Poster #1
• Jalen Levenberry, North Georgetown Elementary School, Georgetown, *Radon is Deadly! See No Radon. Taste No Radon. Smell No Radon. So Test for Radon. Poster # 2
• Sonia Gonzalez, Smyrna Middle School, Smyrna, *Radon. The! Silent Killer. Poster #3

The three winning Delaware entries will be entered into the National Radon Poster Contest in October where their artwork will be judged based on content accuracy, visual communication of topic, reproducibility and originality. The judging will occur in November 2012. The winner of the National Poster Contest will receive a cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., along with a parent and sponsor to attend the national award ceremony in January 2013.

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless and radioactive gas that occurs naturally in rocks and soils throughout the world. This gas may be found in homes and buildings; even new construction can contain radon. Since newer homes are more airtight than older ones they often allow higher concentrations of radon to accumulate. According to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the nation for non-smokers. It is also the sixth-leading cause of all cancer deaths combined, responsible for nearly 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year.

DPH encourages all Delawareans to test their homes for radon. If elevated levels of radon are found, it can be removed by installing a mitigation system that moves the gas from around your home's foundation, preventing radon gas from entering your home. Homeowners can call DPH for a list of contractors or download the list by visiting: www.RadonSafeDelaware.org.

DPH has test kits available free of charge while supplies last. The test kits may also be purchased at most hardware stores. To request a free radon test kit, contact the DPH radon office at (302) 744-4546 or call 1-800-464-HELP (4357). Information about radon is available at www.RadonSafeDelaware.org

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.