JACKSON, Wyo. — On Thursday, May 1, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH)’s Wyoming Radon Program announced its annual youth radon poster contest winners, with fifth grade Jackson student Chloe Hernandez earning second place.
According to the WDH, the Wyoming Radon Poster Contest is intended to help Wyoming families learn about potential radon-related health risks.
Chloe Hernandez from Jackson won 2nd place. Poster: Chloe Hernandez
“This year we had 170 students from 22 schools across Wyoming participate,” WDH said in the announcement. “We would like to thank all the students, teachers and parents for their participation in this year’s contest.”
Winning entries in the third to sixth grade category:
- First Place: Fallon Hultgren, 3rd grade, Carpenter
- Second Place: Chloe Hernandez, 5th grade, Jackson
Winning entries in the seventh to ninth grade category:
- First Place: Anika Oleson, 9th grade, Newcastle
- Second Place: Haven Hecker, 8th grade, Lovell
The WDH wrote that radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless and dangerous gas found in many places, including homes. Radon occurs naturally as radioactive gas released from the element radium, which is found in rocks, soil and water.
“While all Wyoming homes are at risk of radon, with higher levels the risk may become a health concern,” WDH said via press release.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrote in a statement that corrective action needs to be taken if radon levels exceed 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) in the home. The EPA recommends homes be tested for radon every two years. Short-term radon test kits are available for $10 at the Teton County Health Department, located at 460 East Pearl Avenue in Jackson.
Visit health.wyo.gov/radon to view winning poster entries, learn more about radon or to order a radon test kit.
