Winners named in annual Radon Poster Contest

The UGA Radon Program sponsors an annual poster contest for Georgia students to raise awareness about the dangers of radon.

Students ages 9-14 create posters focusing on one of six topics related to radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

Emmeline Francisco of Townsend placed first in the state competition out of 145 applicants.

Brennan Dunston of Bethlehem, Ga., and Jeriah Wright of Waycross placed second and third, respectively.

All winners were invited to the Capitol to meet with Governor Brain Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp. The winners received a gift card to Walmart, a framed picture of their poster, UGA Radon swag and a certificate of recognition.

Radon forms from a breakdown of radioactive elements such as uranium and radium in the soil and water and is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths in the United States annually, including about 800 Georgians who die from radon-induced lung cancer.

The UGA Radon Program provides radon test kits for $15. Visit radon.uga.edu for more information or email ugaradon@uga.edu with questions.

“Georgia has a moderate risk for radon, with a higher risk in northeastern counties,” said UGA Radon educator Rebecca Cantrell. “The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test.”