Kelly MacGregor, Communications Specialist | 303-692-3304 | kelly.macgregor@state.co.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018
COLORADO — Colorado students interested in educating others about the dangers of radon, while also competing for a cash prize, have one month left to enter the 2019 National Radon Poster Contest.
The contest, which closes Nov. 30, is coordinated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The competition is designed to raise awareness about radon testing and inform people about the dangers of radon in their homes. Submissions first are entered into the Colorado contest. The winning poster will represent Colorado in the national contest.
State winners are awarded $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third. Teachers of students with winning entries each will receive $100. The winning artwork will be displayed on educational materials across the state.
Students ages 9 to 14 enrolled in a public, private, territorial, tribal, Department of Defense or home schools are eligible to submit entries. Members of a sponsoring club, such as a scouting organization or an art, computer, science or 4-H club, also are eligible. One entry per student is allowed. Poster contest submission forms, topics and rules may be found online at www.coloradoradon.info.
Radon is a gas you cannot smell, see or taste that comes naturally from the earth. It is radioactive and can easily enter homes and buildings through small openings. The Surgeon General lists radon exposure as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. In Colorado, 50 percent of houses have high radon levels. The best way to protect yourself against radon is to test your home.
More information about radon, discount test kits, and radon measurement and/or mitigation contractors is available at www.coloradoradon.info or by calling Colorado’s Radon Hotline at 1-800-846-3986. For additional contest information, please visit the website or contact Chrystine Kelley at chrys.kelley@state.co.us.
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