Dear Pennsylvania Educators,

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is excited to announce the 2022 Radon Poster Contest for students. Students ages 9-14 years old as of November 30 are encouraged to combine science and art by creating an educational poster that shows the physical aspects of radon, the harmful effects of indoor radon gas, or the importance of testing for radon in the home.

The U.S. Surgeon General lists radon exposure as the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that enters homes through cracks in the foundation, becoming part of the air indoors. It’s estimated that 40 percent of homes in Pennsylvania have elevated levels of radon, and conducting a simple radon test is the only way to detect the amount of radon present.

Please submit only the top three radon posters from your school by November 1st. Mail the posters to DEP at the address provided in the attached flyer. A panel of DEP staff will select the top three posters across the state and notify the teachers of the winners by email by November 19th. The First Place Winner will be entered into the 2022 National Radon Poster Contest, sponsored by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). The top three posters will be used throughout the year for educational outreach. See the attached form for details and submission instructions.

Please help us spread awareness by educating the children in your care this year! If you need a limited amount of literature, or educational tools, or have any questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Jamie Ruminski | Radiation Health Physicist
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Radiation Protection | Radon Division
P.O. Box 8469
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469
Email: jruminski@pa.gov
Phone: 717.787.4936 l Fax: 717.783.8965