Radon is a naturally occurring gas and has been a major environmental concern over the years, both humans and animals have been affected by this environmental hazard particularly because it’s associated lung cancer risk.
Many studies have been done with laboratory and domesticated animals
in respect to how radiation and its harm affects these animals and we know that for humans radon is linked to causing lung cancer. According to the EPA 21,000 die a year from radon induced lung cancer second to smoking.
Joshua Keyes, creator of the Radonimals™ initiative, seeks to bring awareness to both families and exotic animal facilities and handlers because there is no data on how radon exposure affects exotic animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.
The Radonimals™ brings exotic animals characters to educate families with young children in an easy way to understand radon risk. This is a family-oriented initiative that includes everyone
Joshua seeks to bring this initiative into zoos and other animal facilities to bring education to zookeepers and other animal professionals and their families. We know that more exotic species are becoming prevalent in the home environment which means they would spend as much time as your dog or cat in the home being exposed to radon long term.
Zoo facilities have many animals that
are underground or in basement environments and have not tested
for radon in these buildings which potentially means these animals could
be exposed to radon without their caretakers knowledge. This initiative could educate zookeepers and other animal professionals as a new conservation effort.
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Genesis Creation Project is taking on an opportunity for a new scientific research space with the Radonimals™ initiative, which is a One Health mission. We plan to bring together science, animal care and conservation education and continue to advance understanding on how to protect life as a whole. We also hope to partner with zoos, researchers, universities, veterinarians and other animal professionals to encourage collaboration and support in this scientific exploration.
This initiative is not suggesting that radon has been proven to cause disease in exotic animals. Rather, it recognizes that there is a significant gap in scientific knowledge. If humans, dogs and laboratory animals can experience health effects from long-term radiation exposure, it raises an important question of whether exotic species may also experience health impacts that simply have not yet been studied.
Many exotic animals have unique respiratory systems, different life spans and different environmental needs than domesticated animals. Birds have highly specialized respiratory systems that are among the most efficient in the animal kingdom. Reptiles and amphibians have different metabolic rates and environmental requirements, while many small mammals spend a significant amount of time near the ground where radon concentrations are often the highest. These differences make scientific research even more important.
The Radonimals™ initiative is encouraging environmental health professionals, veterinarians, zoological institutions and universities to begin asking these questions through responsible scientific research. By measuring radon levels in zoological facilities, studying exposure patterns and encouraging collaboration across multiple disciplines, we may gain a better understanding of environmental health risks affecting both animals and the people who care for them.
This is what the One Health approach is all about. Human health, animal health and environmental health are connected. When we protect one, we often protect all three. Radon awareness should not stop at the front door of our homes. It should also include the places where animals live, where conservation takes place and where families go to learn about wildlife.
The Radonimals™ initiative is more than an educational program. It is an invitation for scientific curiosity, collaboration and conservation. Through engaging animal characters, family education, community outreach and future research partnerships, Genesis Creation Project hopes to inspire the next generation of environmental health leaders while exploring an important question that has largely gone unanswered.
Every major scientific discovery begins with someone willing to ask a question that no one else has asked before. The question of how radon may affect exotic animals deserves thoughtful research, open collaboration and careful investigation. The Radonimals™ initiative hopes to help start that conversation.
About Genesis Creation Project
Genesis Creation Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental health education, conservation awareness, and community engagement. Through innovative programs such as the Radonimals™ initiative, the organization seeks to make complex environmental issues easier for families to understand while encouraging scientific research and partnerships that benefit both people and animals.
About the Author
Joshua L. Keyes
Joshua L. Keyes is the Founder and Executive Director of the Genesis Creation Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing education and awareness surrounding radon, environmental stewardship, animal education, and the connection between healthy communities and a healthy planet. He is also the creator of the Radonimals™ Initiative, an innovative educational movement that uses animal-based storytelling, STEM learning, and community engagement to help youth, families, pet owners, and animal professionals better understand the importance of radon awareness and environmental health.
Six years ago, Joshua witnessed his aunt’s journey through lung cancer, an experience that became a catalyst for his passion to become an agent of change in the fight against radon exposure and lung cancer awareness. That personal experience inspired him to help others recognize the importance of prevention, education, and taking proactive steps toward healthier lives.
Through the Genesis Creation Project, Joshua works to educate youth, adults, families, pet owners, and animal professionals about the dangers of radon while encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their overall well-being, including their mental, emotional, and physical health. His vision is to create healthier communities by empowering people with knowledge, inspiring action, and building partnerships that bring science, compassion, faith, conservation, and education together.
As a licensed minister, Joshua brings a unique combination of leadership, counseling, mentorship, relationship building, emotional support, and public speaking skills to his work. His passion is to equip the next generation of leaders to become agents of change who will make a lasting impact in the areas of environmental health, animal welfare, conservation education, and community engagement.
Joshua’s mission is to grow the Genesis Creation Project into a nationally recognized movement where animals become a bridge for education, connection, scientific discovery, and positive change—helping people better understand radon awareness, environmental responsibility, and the importance of caring for all of creation. Through the Radonimals™ Initiative, he also hopes to encourage new research into the potential effects of radon exposure in exotic animals while building partnerships with zoos, universities, veterinarians, researchers, and conservation organizations to advance the One Health approach for future generations.
Contact Information: Genesiscreationproject@gmail.com, 814-873-2284.
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