Prairie Stars Leaders in Public Health

Prairie Star Partners for Radon Education and Risk Communication

Dr. Madrigal leads a student research group that engages in service and community-based learning to support the goals of the Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. Current efforts are focused on radon exposure; students are actively engaged in providing public health education and distributing radon testing devices within the region. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless radioactive gas produced from the radioactive decay of uranium found in rocks and soils. As it decays, radon releases radioactive particles and energy into the air. Breathing air that contains radon can cause cell damage in your lung tissue and potentially lead to lung cancer.  As radon travels through the soil, it can easily move through small spaces in a foundation and enter a building. This includes, but is not limited to, floor drains, sump pits, crawl spaces, foundation cracks and gaps around pipes and wires in residential homes and other buildings. Longterm exposure to high levels of radon is a risk factor for lung cancer.

Students in the UIS public health program are learning how to conduct environmental sampling, summarize data and report results, and design, implement, and evaluate public health programming related to radon awareness, testing, and mitigation. These activities are in partnership with state-wide leaders at the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois. Students have been hosting an education table at local health fairs where visitors can learn about radon, get a short-term radon test to use in their home, and learn about lung cancer screening and navigation resources from the American Lung Association. In addition, they developed a knowledge survey that helps us to learn more about the outreach needs in our local communities. Access our survey here. We have also planned public education events at local libraries where community members can learn about radon, health risks, and testing services. We have hosted radon workshops at the libraries in Chatham, Riverton, and Williamsville. At these events, we provide short-term radon tests to community members and students provide demonstrations of short-term and long-term radon testing devices, as well as provide details on how to interpret the results of the test and where to go for resources for mitigation.

Anyone interested in learning more about our work to increase radon awareness, or to schedule a workshop on radon, is encouraged to contact Dr. Jessica Madrigal, jmadri1@uis.edu, 217-206-8685