Dr. William R. Field, professor in the

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1 NEVADA A RADON REPORT Inside this Report NV Health Conference Page 1 CVMS students & Radon 1 PRSA Award of Excellence 1 Wake Up With the Wagners 3 Churchill Coalition 3 Montessori School testing 3 Pershing County students 3 Radon in Newsletters 4 Radon on the Internet 5 Radon in the News 6 Test kit distribution data 7 Program numbers 8 Radon Program Impacts 8 State test results summaries 9 Middle school students learn about radon On Oct. 7, Radon education coordinator, Jamie Roice-Gomes and program director, Susan Howe, gave five radon presentations to 139 Carson Valley Middle School students. The Environmental Studies eighth grade students learned about the elemental form of radon, the uranium decay chain, the radon health risk and how to test for and fix a radon problem. The children were also encouraged to enter the Nevada Radon Poster Contest. Following the presentation, the students played radon bingo and a radon quiz game to help reinforce the information they learned. Winners were offered prizes such as T-shirts, frisbee flyers and knapsacks. Jamie Roice-Gomes, Education Coordinator, teaches an eighth grade environmental studies class at Carson Valley Middle School. Nevada Radon Education Program A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THROUGH THE NEVADA DIVISION of PUBLIC and BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Volume 8 - Number 2 - FY 2015 October through December 2014 Field speaks at NV Health Conference Dr. William R. Field, professor in the Departments of Occupational and Environmental Health and Epidemiology at the University of Iowa, was the keynote speaker for the lunch program of the 2014 Nevada Health Conference. The conference, given by Immunize Nevada, took place Oct at the Atlantis Hotel & Spa Resort. The Nevada Health Conference educates health practitioners with cutting edge information to help support the communities they serve. With the opportunity to educate health professionals at the conference, Susan Howe, Nevada Radon Education Program Director (NREP), inquired if NREP could provide a speaker for the event. Conference organizers liked the idea and Field accepted NREP s request! At the conference, the Nevada Radon Education Program (NREP) participated in the conference as Radon program earns PRSA Award of Excellence The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) awarded University of Nevada Cooperative Extension s Radon Education Program with a 2014 Award of Excellence for Overall Campaign at their annual Silver Spike Award Banquet, Framing the Future of PR. The event took place at the Atlantis Casino Resort on Thursday, Nov. 20. Jamie Roice-Gomes and Susan Howe accepted the award. Cooperative Extension employees, Claudene Wharton, Tiffany Kozan, Ed Smith, and Sonya Sistare also attended and won Awards of Excellence: 2014 Centennial Video earned an Award of Excellence in the Strategies and Tactics: Audio, Video, Podcast, Webcasts, Etc. category Dr. Bill Field, world renowned radon champion and researcher, was the keynote speaker during the lunch program at the 2014 Nevada Health Conference. exhibitors and funded Field s trip to Reno. Following Field s presentation, a number of individuals visited NREP s booth. The majority of visitors commented, I had no idea radon was a problem! NREP s booth drew a total of 107» continued, See FIELD, Page 2 The Nevada Radon Education Program received a 2014 Awards of Excellence from the northern Nevada PRSA chapter Centennial Edition Program Highlight won an Award of Excellence in the Content Marketing category Living With Fire won an Award of Excellence for Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month in the Special Events and Obsesrvances, 3 or more Days category.» continued, See PRSA AWARDS, Page 2

2 Page 2 PRSA Awards Continued from Page 1 This was our first year to apply for the award, said Susan Howe, program director. We were honored to receive it, as there were many who did not. The Silver Spike Award recognizes communications excellence by northern Nevada, Tahoe Basin or Truckee Meadows media and public relations professionals and stellar excellence of the tactics which make communicatons work. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension received four Award of Excellence awards at PRSA s annual Silver Spike Award Banquet, Framing the Future of PR at the Atlantis Casino Resort on Thursday, Nov. 20. Pictured with hostesses are Ed Smith, Sonya Sistare, Tiffany Kozsan, Susan Howe, Claudene Wharton and Jamie Roice-Gomes. Entries were judged by the North Carolina Chapter of PRSA in Raleigh, NC. Judging criteria included research analysis supporting the need for the program, thoroughness of the plan for the overall goal, budget, the goal and action to achieve the goal, measureable change in outcome or attitude over a period of time, tactics to effect the change, measurement evaluation, creativity, and the level of quality of the program. Field Continued from Page 1 individuals and 104 test kits were distributed during the two-day event. We are honored to have a world-renowned radon champion speak to our local medical community, said Jamie Roice-Gomes, education coordinator. Howe was a major contributing factor in Dr. Field s presence at the conference. Without her efforts, we wouldn t have had Dr. Field introduce radon to the health community. Kudos to both! I applaud Immunize Nevada administrators for having the forsight to include Dr. Field in their educational program, Howe said. The radon health risk message is information that all medical professionals should be aware of, both personally and professionally. Dr. Field visited with Nevada Radon Education Program employees, Susan Howe and Jamie-Roice Gomes, along with Shannon Bennett, policy and health systems manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and Adrian Howe, radiation physicist, Radiation Control, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health at the Twisted Fork restaurant. Susan Howe and Jamie Roice-Gomes of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension s Radon Education Program were awarded an Award of Excellence at PRSA s annual Silver Spike Award Banquet, Nov. 20. Sun Valley GID offers proclamation Photo courtesy of George Anastassatos Lightray Studios Nevada Radon Education Program employees, Susan Howe and Jamie- Roice Gomes, distributed radon educational information and free radon test kits at the Nevada Health Conference. Reno News & Review interviews Jamie Master Gardeners assist Radon Program Garth Elliott, vice-chair, Sun Valley General Improvement District, presented Susan Howe with a proclamation at the Dec. 11 meeting for National Radon Action Month. Howe presented a short radon health risk message to 27 members and attendees. Jamie Roice-Gomes, education coordinator, was interviewed Dec. 4 by Reno News & Review reporter Sage Leehey for an article, Silent but deadly published Dec. 11. At least 34 people came to the office to pick up a free radon test kit after reading the article. Washoe County Master Gardeners, Linda Fulton and Tawny Moore provided assistance to the Nevada Radon Education Program by preparing a set of radon test kits for distribution and counting inventory.

3 Volume 8 - Number 2 - FY 2015 Page 3 Mountain View Montessori tests for radon This fall, the south Reno school, Mountain View Montessori (MVM), requested assistance from the Nevada Radon Education Program to help them test their school for radon. Susan Howe and Jamie Roice-Gomes visited the school Nov. 6 and determined that 20 test kits would be used to test the school. The test devices were deployed on Monday, Nov. 17 according to protocol, and were retrieved and sent to the lab on Thursday morning, Nov. 20. All of the test results were at or below 1.6 pci/l, well below the EPA action level of 4 pci/l. We requested the testing after receiving personal kits at the annual UNR Field Day a couple of years ago said Mary Levy, head of school. We were very relieved and pleased to know the MVM learning environment is safe and clear of any harmful radon presence. We feel very fortunate to be selected for this free service offered by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Radon segment featured on Wake Up With the Wagners On Dec. 11, Jamie Roice-Gomes was interviewed on live television with the Las Vegas NBC affiliate morning weekday crew from Wake Up With the Wagners on News Channel 3. Roice-Gomes spoke to reporter, Krystal Allen, about the radon health risk and showed viewers how to use a radon test kit. The event took place in Marilyn Ming s living room. Ming is the Clark County Cooperative Extension Marketing/PR Specialist. The interview played throughout the day on other news broadcasts, creating a lot of action. The Clark County Cooperative Extension Jamie Roice-Gomes, Education Coordinator, was intereviewed by Krystal Allen for the NBC affiliate morning news program, Wake Up With the Wagners, in Las Vegas on Dec. 11. office was inundated with calls regarding radon test kits. Within a week, 87 test kits were distributed in Las Vegas, and countless phone calls were made to the Radon Hotline for kit requests by mail. NREP invited to present to Carson City Sunset Rotary Club Jamie Roice-Gomes, education coordinator, spoke to the Carson City Sunset Rotary Club on Oct. 9 at Red s 395 Grill. Seven rotary members attended the radon presentation and 11 radon test kits were distributed after the meeting. Radon presentation given to UNR Staff Employees Council The Nevada Radon Education Program was invited to speak at the Staff Employees Council on Nov. 18 at the Joe Crowley Student Union. About 20 members heard the radon presentation and 17 kits were distributed. Pershing County Middle school students learn about radon Jamie-Roice Gomes, education coordinator, presented the radon message to 126 students and teachers at Pershing County Middle School on Oct. 16. After the presentation, Susan Howe, program director, quizzed the students on radon facts and gave out prizes for correct answers. About 75 test kits were distributed to students and teachers. The Nevada Radon Education Program was invited to the Churchill Community Coalition s Dec. 17 luncheon meeting at the Fallon Convention Center. Radon test kits were given to attendees upon request. Churchill Community Coalition invites Radon Program to luncheon The Churchill Community Coalition invited the Nevada Radon Education Program to hand out radon test kits and information at its Dec. 17 luncheon meeting in the Fallon Convention Center. The Churchill Community Coalition is a non-profit community coalition whose primary goal is to support and promote prevention programs in Churchill County for youth and families. Attendees included local law enforcement, health care providers, school officials, child and family service employees, city officials, members of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, and local businesses. About 72 individuals attended the meeting and 22 radon test kits were distributed.

4 Page 4 Radon in newsletters... South Washoe Dems Golden Valley Property Owners Association Incline Village GID Sustainable Living Renewable Energy e-news Nov. 26, 2014 NSHE e-news Dec. 2, 2014 NSHE e-news HAWS employee newsletter Dec. 10, 2014 NSHE e-news Girl Scouts of Sierra Nevada

5 Volume 8 - Number 2 - FY 2015 Page 5 Radon on the internet... Dec. 1, 2014 CarsonNow.org Dec. 1, 2014 ThisisReno.com Dec. 9, 2014 NevadaAppeal.com Dec. 2, 2014 KRNV.com Nov. 29, 2014 lvrj.com December 2014 WashoeCounty.us Dec. 1, 2014 unr.edu/nevada-today Dec. 11, 2014 NevadaCancerCoalition.org Dec. 8, 2014 PublicNewsService.org Nov. 13, 2014 radonleaders.org Dec. 31, 2014 Rgj.com Dec. 8, 2014 unce.unr.edu Dec. 24, 2014 KTVN.com Dec. 11, 2014 NewsReview.com Dec. 18, 2014 InsideNorthernNevada.com Dec. 18, 2014 unce.unr.edu Dec. 5, 2014 unce.unr.edu/blogs Dec. 1, 2014 uwayreno_communityos.org Dec. 31, 2014 prsa.org Dec. 10, 2014 recordcourier.com Dec. 31, 2014 DicksonRealty.com Dec. 1, 2014 KOLOTV.com Dec. 2, 2014 nbcnews.com Nov. 25, 2014 NVnurses.org Dec. 31, 2014 topix.com

6 Page 6 Radon in the news... Dec. 18, 2014 Lovelock Review-Miner Nov. 6, 2014 Lovelock Review-Miner Dec. 11, 2014 Reno News & Review Dec. 12, 2014 Lincoln County Record Dec. 19, 2014 The Humboldt Sun Dec. 14, 2014 The Record-Courier Dec. 19, 2014 The Humboldt Sun Nov. 18, 2014 Desert Valley Times Oct. 23, 2014 Lovelock Review-Miner Dec. 30, 2014 Nevada Appeal Oct. 25, 2014 Reno Gazette-Journal

7 Volume 8 - Number 2 - FY 2015 Page 7 Radon in the news... Dec. 4, 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal Dec. 11, 2014 Mineral County Independent Dec. 20, 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal Dec. 26, 2014 Lahontan Valley News Dec. 26, 2014 Comstock Chronicle Dec. 26, 2014 Comstock Chronicle Dec. 28, 2014 The Record-Courier Dec. 10, 2014 Nevada Appeal Radon test kit distribution, October to December 2014 The data in the two charts on this page show that 1,440 shortterm test kits were distributed at events, by mail order requests, and at Cooperative Extension and partner offices during the October through December quarter. Only 268 test kits, 19 percent, of those distributed during the quarter, were used as of Dec. 31, Short-term test kits distributed from Special Projects, Partners and Cooperative Extension offices from Oct - Dec 2014 Distribution point No. kits distributed No. % Carson City County Cooperative Extension % Churchill County Cooperative Extension 8 0 0% Clark County Cooperative Extension % Douglas County Cooperative Extension % Tahoe Regional Planning Agency % Nevada Tahoe Conservation District 2 0 0% Elko County Cooperative Extension % Humboldt County Cooperative Extension % Lincoln County Cooperative Extension % Lyon County Cooperative Extension 3 0 0% Mineral County Cooperative Extension % Pershing County Cooperative Extension % Washoe County Cooperative Extension % Incline Village Recreation Center % Bureau of Reclamation % Mitigator Norm Denny kit distribution % TOTALS % Short-term test kits distributed by Mail with Coupons, Phone, or Online orders from Oct - Dec 2014 Distribution point No. kits distributed No. Date Short-term test kits distributed at Programs from October to December 2014 Program No. kits distributed No. % 10/7/14 Carson Valley Middle School % 10/9/14 Sunset Rotary program % 10/16/14 Pershing County Middle School % 10/20/14 Nevada Health Conference % 10/29/14 Lovelock Programs % 11/3/14 Minden Rotary Program % 11/17/14 School testing % 11/18/14 Staff Employees Council Program % 12/11/14 Sun Valley GID Proclamation % 12/17/14 Churchill Community Coalition % Program Totals % % Mail order requests % Mail order requests by % Mail order requests from Library coupons % Mail order requests by Phone % Mail order requests from Web coupons % TOTALS %

8 Page 8 Radon Education Program Numbers UNCE Radon Program Numbers prior to Sep 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY14 Jul Sep 14 Oct Dec 14 Total to date Radon phone and inquiries 2,136 2,688 1,911 2,209 1,946 3,148 1, ,294 Direct contacts promoting radon testing and mitigation 3,259 14,000 10,428 7,862 7,768 8,416 9,205 1,216 2,472 64,626 Newspaper/magazine articles Radon publications/info distributed 2,798 67,071 59,378 58,545 99, , ,754 19,672 31, ,218 Number of radon exhibits Number of TV reports Number of TV PSAs ,410 Number of radio PSAs ,755 5,926 2,063 11,983 Website pages of NV Radon information Eventbrite page views Website page hits 29,466 59,288 75,920 85, , ,030 43,949 62, ,375 Test kits distributed 971 2,469 8,208 5,321 4,829 3,993 4,929 5, ,459 37,691 Homes -Short-Term* 1,574 1,316 4,062 2,590 2,339 2,025 2,043 2, ,867 Homes -Long Term*** School buildings School buildings mitigated Homes mitigated Homes with repaired mitigation system or fan replacements Large buildings Large buildings mitigated Homes in Real Estate transaction ,171 Homes built with RRNC features Number of certified Mitigators Number of Builders using RRNC No. of Realtors promoting Radon testing County # Valid ST tests* Nevada Radon Education Program's Impact Data as of % Radon Potential of Usable ST Test Results* % kits distributed/used** % Homes * % Mitigations # # Homes % Radon Homes > 4 pci/l Potential < 4 pci/l Average ST radon level pci/l Maximum ST radon level pci/l # long & shortterm test kits # test kits used distributed % of test kits used # # Homes % Homes Households # Homes that need mitigated # Homes mitigated # Real Estate # RRNC # Homes in % Homes a real estate mitigated transaction # Homes built RRNC Carson City 1, % ,973 1, % 21,122 1, % % Churchill % % 9, % % 10 3 Clark 2,131 1, % ,206 2, % 706,037 2, % % Douglas 3,262 1,977 1, % ,340 4, % 19,226 3, % 1, % Elko % % 17, % % 8 1 Esmeralda % % % 0 Eureka % % % 8 0% Humboldt % % 6, % % 4 1 Lander % % 1, % % 9 1 Lincoln % % 1, % 19 0% 1 Lyon % , % 18, % % Mineral % % 2, % % 4 Nye % % 18, % 11 0% 8 1 Pershing % % 2, % % 3 Storey % % 1, % 7 0% Washoe 6,807 5,363 1, % ,769 8, % 161,892 8, % 1, % White Pine % % 3, % % 5 1 Unknown % % % 2 15,726 11,662 4, % ,691 19, % 992,896 19, % 3, % *# Valid Tests and # Homes Tested: Data from the Nevada Radon Program's database of test results was combined with information provided from certified Radon Measurement and Mitigation Providers, as well as AccuStar Lab, Alpha Energy Laboratories, Pro Lab, Air Chek Inc., Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health- Radiation Control Program and the Washoe County District Health Department. The Household data is from 2012 Census data. **# Test kits Distributed: includes only short- and long-term tests distributed by the Nevada Radon Education Program, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health- Radiation Control Program, and the Washoe County District Health Department.

9 Volume 8 - Number 2 - FY 2015 Page 9 Nevada counties Total number of usable tests per county EPA Action Level <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 No. of short-term radon test results , ,977 1, % of homes that have elevated radon levels Nevada counties Total number of usable tests per county Eureka 26 Humboldt 135 Lander 71 Lincoln 54 Lyon 717 Mineral 78 EPA Action Level <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 No. of short-term radon test results % of homes that have elevated radon levels 30.77% 28.89% 22.54% 35.19% 28.45% 37.18% Nevada counties Total number of usable tests per county Nevada counties Nevada Radon Short-Term Test Results* From 1989 to December 31, 2014 Nevada Radon Long-Term Test Results** From January 2001 to December 31, 2014 Carson City Carson City Churchill Clark Douglas Elko Esmeralda 1, ,131 3, % 13.26% 9.06% 39.39% 36.68% Churchill Clark Douglas Elko Humboldt Lincoln Lyon Nye Pershing Washoe sample size too small Nye Pershing Storey Washoe White Pine TOTALS , ,727 EPA Action Level <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 No. of short-term radon test results ,363 1, ,662 4,065 % of homes that have elevated radon levels 9.16% 53.33% 36.84% 21.23% 30.77% 25.85% *State data provided by the Nevada State Health Division, Nevada certified radon testers and the following labs: AccuStar Labs, Alpha Energy Laboratories, Air Chek, Inc. and Pro Lab. Results based on independently homes, not scientific sampling. When known, post-mitigation results are not included and usable results are valid tests, one per home, using an average of multiple tests from the lowest level of the home. (Schools & large buildings not included.) Total number of usable tests per county EPA Action Level <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 <4.0 >4.0 No. of long-term radon test results % of homes that have high radon 46.8% 0% 14.3% 28.8% 30% 33.3% 100% 23.3% 100% 33.3% 24.4% 22.2% 27.19% levels White Pine TOTALS **State data provided by RSSI, Alpha Energy Laboratories and AccuStar Labs. Results based on independently homes, not scientific sampling. When known, post-mitigation results are not included and usable results are valid tests, one per home, using an average of multiple tests from the lowest level of the home. (Schools & large buildings not included.) Zones Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zones Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Radon Zone Summaries Nevada Radon Zone Short-Term Test Result Summary Total Tests Tests > 4 pci/l % high radon Counties Carson City, Douglas, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, 5,864 2, % Pershing, White Pine Churchill, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Nye, Storey, Washoe 7,732 1, % Clark 2, % Statewide statistics 15,727 4, % Nevada Radon Zone Long-Term Test Result Summary Counties Carson City, Douglas, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, White Pine Churchill, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Nye, Storey, Washoe Clark Total Tests Tests > 4 pci/l % high radon % % % Statewide statistics % The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or genetic information in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. This publication was supported by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health through Grant Number K from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the offi cial views of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health nor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.