BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
RADON ACTION MONTH
2011
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally-occurring radioactive gas that threatens the
health of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon causes more than
20,000 deaths each year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States
and the number one cause among non-smokers; and
WHEREAS, a national health advisory was issued by the federal government in 2005 because
breathing indoor radon over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one in 15 homes across the
country has an elevated radon level; and
WHEREAS, in North Carolina, based on data collected by the Radiation Protection Section in the
Division of Environmental Health, radon is present at elevated levels in about 7 percent of homes; and
WHEREAS, indoor elevated levels of radon is a preventable and correctable problem; and
WHEREAS, testing for radon is simple and inexpensive, ranging from $4 to $25 for do-it-
yourself, with costs of repairs by a professional to reduce the radon level ranging from $800 to
approximately $2,500; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Radon Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency arc
encouraging Americans to test their homes for radon, mitigate elevated levels of radon, and build new
homes with radon-resistant materials and features;
NOW, THEREFORE, 1, BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE, Governor of the Slate of North Carolina
do hereby proclaim January 201 1, as “RADON ACTION MONTH” in North Carolina and urge our
citizens and interested groups to promote awareness of the hazards of radon exposure, encourage citizens
to test and mitigate their homes for radon levels and visit http://www.ncradon.org for additional radon
information.
IN WITNESS hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of
North Carolina at the (ppitol in Rale4|i this first day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand
ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
