Mayor Garner Signs Proclamation to Battle Radon Exposure
Published on March 16, 2022
Today, Mayor Tyrone A. Garner along with Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator, Meg McCollister banned together at IIus W. Davis Park, (1000 Locust St., Kansas City, MO 64106) for a proclamation signing event to help fight the ongoing battle with Radon Exposure in Kansas City communities. This event highlighted the dangers of Radon Exposure in homes and businesses as well as the importance of residents continuously testing their homes to ensure there is no presence of radon poisoning.
With an estimated death toll of over 21,000 people each year, as well as 1 in 4 homes in Kansas and Missouri impacted by high radon levels, both Mayor Garner and Mayor Lucas both understand the positive impact of uniting to drive the importance of residents understanding radon dangers, testing and it’s direct connection to lung cancer in non-smokers. Currently both Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri both are rated at Zone One according to EPA radon standards, meaning homes and businesses in these areas have higher than recommended radon levels assigned by the EPA.
“I am happy to be working with Region 7 of the EPA, as well as the City of Kansas City, Missouri for such a great cause,” said Mayor Tyrone Garner. “Although often overlooked, environmental challenges, such as radon are just as important as any other challenges that a city may face. We are working to leave no stone unturned when it comes to making Wyandotte County/ Kansas City, KS a great and safe place to live, work and raise a family.”
The proclamation signing event was just the first of many initiatives to ensure residents are aware of the dangers of radon. Mayor Garner is challenging local businesses, hospitals, and medical health networks to help raise radon awareness and push the importance of being more conscious of the effects of radon by displaying EPA radon posters.
As part of the Mayor’s platform, he has developed an Environmental Sustainability and Green Energy taskforce, which will be focusing on taking action on environmental dangers to ensure that members of our community have equitable access to resources that will help protect against dangers such as radon.
Radon Overview
Radon is a cancer-causing gas that individuals are not able to see, smell or taste. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. (www.epa.gov)
Radon Testing
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools. Testing is inexpensive and easy—it should only take a few minutes of your time. You can’t see radon, but it’s not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home.
The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter of air,” or “pCi/L.” There are many kinds of low-cost “do it yourself” radon test kits you can get through the mail and in some hardware stores and other retail outlets. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. (www.epa.gov)
More Information
For additional information about radon levels, testing and resources, please visit.