The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday urged Pennsylvania students, ages nine to 14, to enter a national radon poster contest designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon. The deadline to enter is October 31.

Radon exposure causes nearly 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, and 40 percent of homes in Pennsylvania have radon levels above the EPA guideline of four picocuries per liter.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It enters homes through tiny cracks in basements and foundations, but home mitigation systems can quickly and significantly reduce radon levels.

Kansas State University’s National Radon Program Services sponsors the poster contest, which is open to all students enrolled in a public, private, territorial, tribal, Department of Defense, or home school—or through a sponsoring club, such as an art, computer or science club; scouting organization; or 4-H club.

The poster topics include:

• 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.

Judging will be based on content accuracy, visual communication of topic, reproducibility and originality.

National winners will receive award plaques and gift cards in the amount of $1,000 for first place, $600 for second, $400 for third and $400 for special online voting recognition. These winners will also be recognized in their home area, and the posters will be reproduced and distributed nationally to promote radon awareness.

A winning submission and runner-up will be chosen for entry into the national contest from each state and U.S. territory.

Click Here for an online entry form. For more information on radon, visit DEP’s Radon webpage or call 1-800-23 RADON.

9/29/2014