Local Students Raise Awareness of Radon Risks

To raise awareness of the health risks of radon and to encourage the public to test their homes, Greenville Technical College’s PTK students teamed up with the DHEC in downtown Greenville.

Over 200 students and community members participated in the “Radioactive Flash Mob” on October 18th at noon.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Greenville County has the highest radon level in the state of South Carolina, and is the only county that is considered a “red zone” in the entire state. According to the Surgeon General, radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the United States and is responsible for at least 21,000 deaths per year.

Radon is a cancer-causing, naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground and releases into the air we breathe. It can get into any type of building, including homes, offices, and schools, and becomes particularly dangerous when we are exposed to high indoor radon concentrations.

Based on PTK’s survey research results, a vast majority of people are unaware of what radon even is, the serious health risks involved, the fact that Greenville County is the only radon red zone in the state of South Carolina, and that DHEC offers free radon test kits to SC residents.