Originally Posted By: gromicko
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EPA Urges Testing of All Homes for Radon
Campaign Launched to Educate Americans about Dangers from Deadly Indoor Radioactive Gas
Radon is 2nd Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in U.S. Killing an Estimated 21,000 Annually
More Than 3 Million People in Illinois Live in High Radon Areas
The Environmental Protection Agency today is urging all Americans to have their homes tested for Radon, an odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, claiming an estimated 21,000 lives annually. With the warning, the EPA also launched an extensive public education campaign designed to inform Americans about radon, its dangers and steps they can easily take to reduce their risks from the gas. The campaign includes public service announcements in English and Spanish, and a toll free hotline with information about testing and reducing radon gas in the home.
With more than three million people in Illinois living in high radon areas, the EPA recommends radon testing for both new and older homes. Do-it-yourself radon test kits cost around $25. Most homes found to have high levels of radon can be mitigated to reduce the gas from their homes at a modest cost.
For more information visit www.epa.gov/radon or to see the state-by-state EPA map of radon levels visit www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html. To get a radon test kit call (800) SOS-RADON or (800)767-7236. For local information call your state radon office. Interviews with local radon experts are available.
VISUAL ELEMENTS available on the video news feed:
? PSA
? INTERVIEWS:
o Jeff Holmstead, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation
o Bill Field, Professor of Epidemiology and Radon Expert, University of Iowa
o Dan Steck, Professor of Physics, St. Johns University, The Minnesota Radon Project, www.csbsju.edu/mnradon/
o Mark Mitchell, Radon Mitigation Specialist
o Ann Rhodes, Homeowner, talks about testing for radon, and installing a home mitigation system
? STORY PACKAGE
? B-ROLL: Homes, Ann Rhodes house, radon detectors, Mark Mitchell inspecting house, Mitigation system in house, EPA campaign material, Jeff Holmstead at work, Bill Field at work, Dan Steck at work
AVAILABLE ON CNN NEWSOURCE PATHFIRE ? Medical, Features Tabs
SATELLITE COORDINATES
WHAT: EPA URGES RADON TESTING IN ALL HOMES
WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 2004 from 1- 1:15 pm & 4- 4:15 pm EST
COORDINATES: Telstar 5 Transponder 20 C-Band 4100 Frequency Horizontal Polarity Audio 6.2/6.8
CONTACT: Kim Fox at 877-544-8400 (toll-free)