January 11, 2017

Florida Health Celebrates National Radon Action Month

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—Florida Health is kicking off National Radon Action Month in January by announcing the winners of the 2017 Florida Radon Poster Contest. Florida’s first place winner also placed first in the National Radon Poster Contest. The annual Florida Radon Poster Contest is a great opportunity to engage students and schools in educating their communities about the risks from elevated indoor radon levels.

“Exposure to elevated indoor radon levels can increase your risk of cancer, so it is important to know how to detect this invisible hazard,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. Celeste Philip. “I am proud of the students who entered this year’s radon poster contest to help raise awareness of radon and I encourage all Floridians to protect their families by testing their home and reducing high radon levels when found.”

The department congratulates the winners of the 2017 Florida Radon Poster Contest.

• First Place: Victoria Rowe, “Radon Can Cause Lung Cancer;”
• Second Place: Kaliana Hutiu, “Radon is a Rising Threat;”
• Third Place: Mishel Almaleh, “What is Radon? The Silent Killer;” and
• Honorable Mention: Carolina Vilato, “Radon Can Cause Lung Cancer.”

Florida’s first place winner, Victoria Rowe, won first place at the 2017 National Radon Poster Contest. Additionally, Mishel Amaleh and Carolina Vilato placed in the top ten nationally. The department would like to thank all students who participated as well as parents, sponsors and teachers for their support. 

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell or touch. Radon in indoor air causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. In Florida, one in five homes tested for radon has elevated levels. Radon can be detected with a simple test and high levels reduced using well-established techniques.

For more information about how to test your home for radon or hire state-certified radon measurement professionals, contact the Florida Radon Program at 1-800-543-8279 or visit the department’s Radon Program website.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.