Wheaton Student Wins National Radon Video Contest

January is Radio Action Month and today, the American Lung Association and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors announced the winners of the 2023 National Radon Poster and Video Contest. Eva D. of Wheaton Academy in Wheaton, Illinois is the 1st place winner of $1,000 for her video submission. 

The contest is held each year across the nation to raise awareness of radon gas, the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Children ages 9-14 were eligible to participate in the poster contest and high school students were eligible to participate in the video contest to promote radon awareness.

The 2023 video winner and their prize include:

• 1st place – Eva D. – Wheaton Academy, Illinois $1,000

The 2023 poster winners and their prizes include:

• 1st place – Brooklyn G.. – Plymouth Middle School, Minnesota, $1,000
• 2nd place – Conor H. . - Central School, Connecticut, $300
• 3rd place – Parker S. – Northview Middle School, Iowa, $200

"Radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. These deaths are preventable, and there is an urgent need to raise awareness of the simple steps that can be taken to reduce radon exposure," said Deb Brown, Chief Mission Officer of the Lung Association. "The Lung Association is proud of its efforts to raise awareness of radon gas, including engaging communities through the 2023 National Radon Poster and Video Contest."

"For over a decade, the poster and video contest has served as a way to bring information and raise awareness of radon and its adverse health effects to teachers, students, families, and communities," said Joshua Kerber, M.S., Chair of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors’ committee on radon. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that all homes with radon levels at or equal to 4 picocuries per liter take action and install a radon mitigation system.

The Lung Association and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors reviewed and coordinated the selection of the national winners from the states who submitted their top winners from the state poster and video contests this year. The Lung Association and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors congratulate all the students who participated from all over the country.

Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium in the soil. Radon gas is found in all 50 states and may enter a home through cracks and other openings in the home and can build up to dangerous levels. Radon is only detectable by performing a home test. 

For more information on the poster and video contest please contact your state radon program. For questions about radon or to test your home, visit Lung.org/radon or contact the Lung Association at 1-800-325-1245. For media interested in speaking with an expert about radon, contact the American Lung Association at Angela Tin at [email protected] or 217-241-9027.