The University of Kentucky and community partners are spreading the word about an odorless gas that can be deadly: radon. The effort is funded by a $2.6 million, five-year grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Stacy Stanifer is an assistant professor in UK’s College of Nursing and the principal investigator for the study.
“Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes naturally from the decay of uranium that's in rocks and soil, so it's found everywhere. But as radon decays, like all radiation does, it throws off tiny particles of radiation.”
Stanifer said radon plays a role in about 1,000 new cases of lung cancer annually in Kentucky. She said they’ll work with Hopkinsville Community College and KCTCS to make homes safer.
“This will allow for students at other KCTCS campuses across the state to enroll in the program and the courses. They'll build a workforce across Kentucky that is skilled in building new homes using radon- resistant new construction features.”
Stanifer said they also hope to help homeowners make more informed decisions and fix existing homes with high levels of radon.
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