Quality Report
Radon Awareness Event
from 1989-2015). Knowing that radon is a risk
factor for lung cancer, we sought to find out
how many community members are aware of the
health risks of radon exposure.
Renown Institute for Cancer and the University of
Nevada, Reno’s Nevada Radon Education Program
hosted a prevention outreach event in January
2017. Because radon is the second leading cause
of lung cancer and there is a high incidence of
this type of cancer seen in northern Nevada, event
organizers provided education and free radon
test kits. A quality study was then conducted on
information provided from this outreach event.
Criteria used to study the problem
1) A questionnaire was given to assess knowledge
of radon and risk factor for lung cancer
2) Evaluation of the home with distribution of
free radon test kits
Study Topic: National and local awareness of
radon is limited. In the 2018-2020 Washoe County
Community Health Needs Assessment, at least
one high-risk local zip code (89501) had average
radon levels that would require action (results
3) Report of how many radon test kits were
validated
Radon Study findings through 10/19/17
Methodology
1) A questionnaire was created to assess knowledge and awareness of radon and risk factor for
lung cancer.
2) 294 radon test kits were distributed
Results Summary:
• 225 questionnaires were completed and returned.
• 133 (59%) did not have previous knowledge of radon.
• 89 (40%) did not know radon was leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.
• 116 (51%) were not aware individual radon levels still may be elevated in an area that has
low radon risk.
• 82 (27.89% usage) radon test kits were used with 60 valid test results.
• 14 radon tests were at or above the action level of 4.0 pCI/l (see Table 1, page 10)
• 14 of 60 valid results equals 23.3 percent radon potential from this group (similar to statewide
percentage of 24.85, according to Radon Awareness program)
• Out of those tested, county locations were:
- 1 in Ormsby County (Carson City)
- 2 in Lyon County
- 79 in Washoe County
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