# Radon on the RADAR

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $604,151

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, yet the disease remains highly preventable by
eliminating exposure to tobacco smoke and radon. As rural communities lead the nation in lung cancer
incidence and mortality, there is urgency to lower radon exposure in rural areas. Radon on the RADAR
(Residents Acting to Detect and Alleviate Radon) 1.0 uncovered disparities in access to and affordability of
radon mitigation, and low testing and mitigation rates despite access to radon detectors in public libraries,
and geologic impacts on home radon exposure that warrant further investigation to reduce exposure to the
deadly gas in rural areas. RADAR 2.0 will strengthen partnerships with citizen scientists, public libraries, and
local radon coalitions to increase access to affordable radon mitigation, develop effective radon risk
communication messaging, automate report-back using a novel website platform, and translate geologic
and residential data to builders and policymakers to educate and inform radon resistant new construction
policy. Aim 1 will evaluate the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a radon
measurement and mitigation curriculum developed and implemented by Kentucky Community and Technical
College System Construction Technology faculty and students. Aim 2 will develop and test the effects of radon
risk messages with rural homeowners who have never tested for radon and those with high radon who have
not mitigated. Aim 3 will design and test the effects of My Radon Report, a novel automated, personalized
radon report-back tool, on intention to test and mitigate for radon, environmental health literacy, and efficacy
for radon testing and mitigation among rural homeowners, and track usage and website metrics for scalability.
Aim 4 will examine the association among geologic, soil, and residential characteristics and indoor radon
values to guide education and better inform radon resistant new construction policy. RADAR 2.0 is innovative
in several ways: 1) partnering with the community college system to build capacity for certified radon mitigators
in rural Kentucky by offering and evaluating a radon measurement and mitigation certification and training
curriculum; 2) evaluating radon testing and mitigation messages with key target groups; 3) developing and
testing a user-initiated, personalized report-back website platform to accompany the radon detector library loan
program; and 4) performing in-depth analyses of soil processes and characteristics that relate to elevated
indoor radon levels, closing a critical gap in our understanding of the role of geologic factors on radon risk
potential. RADAR 2.0 will address gaps in radon risk reduction in rural communities by designing and
evaluating a novel approach to increasing access to certified radon professionals, expanding our
understanding of radon risk messaging and report-back, and conducting in-depth geo-assessment to guide
education and infor...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10980804
- **Project number:** 2R01ES030380-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Stacy Stanifer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $604,151
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2020-02-20 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10980804

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10980804, Radon on the RADAR (2R01ES030380-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10980804. Licensed CC0.

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