Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation
One in three homes in Utah (USA) contains dangerous levels of radon. Except for a radon mitigation certification law, Utah’s radon laws are nonexistent. To determine public perception of state policies on radon testing and mitigation, a social cognitive theory-based 52-item questionnaire was adminis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1016 |
| _version_ | 1827685870375796736 |
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| author | M. Lelinneth B. Novilla James D. Johnston John D. Beard Lucas L. Pettit Siena F. Davis Claire E. Johnson |
| author_facet | M. Lelinneth B. Novilla James D. Johnston John D. Beard Lucas L. Pettit Siena F. Davis Claire E. Johnson |
| author_sort | M. Lelinneth B. Novilla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One in three homes in Utah (USA) contains dangerous levels of radon. Except for a radon mitigation certification law, Utah’s radon laws are nonexistent. To determine public perception of state policies on radon testing and mitigation, a social cognitive theory-based 52-item questionnaire was administered to residents (N = 307) who visited the Utah County Health Department (UCHD) during the study period. Respondents were divided into an Environmental Health Group (<i>n</i> = 110), who purchased a radon kit, and Vital Records Control Group (<i>n</i> = 197), who filed/obtained birth/death certificates at UCHD. Ninety percent responded they had never tested their homes for radon, and 99% were not aware of state policies regarding radon. Support for various radon policies was significantly associated with older age (odds ratios (OR): 0.37–0.52), being female (OR: 2.60–7.79), lower annual family income (OR: 2.27), and theoretical constructs of behavioral modeling (OR: 2.31–2.55) and risk perception (OR: 2.55–3.71). To increase awareness, testing, and remediation, respondents suggested increasing public education/awareness, requiring testing in homes, businesses, and public buildings, and increasing access to testing. Multi-sectoral radon risk reduction programs could incorporate behavioral modeling and risk perception as components to create a radon testing and mitigation culture in Utah. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:00:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91e151b1ce5e4604929328661ebaf518 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:00:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-91e151b1ce5e4604929328661ebaf5182023-11-22T06:47:49ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-08-01128101610.3390/atmos12081016Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and MitigationM. Lelinneth B. Novilla0James D. Johnston1John D. Beard2Lucas L. Pettit3Siena F. Davis4Claire E. Johnson5Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USAOne in three homes in Utah (USA) contains dangerous levels of radon. Except for a radon mitigation certification law, Utah’s radon laws are nonexistent. To determine public perception of state policies on radon testing and mitigation, a social cognitive theory-based 52-item questionnaire was administered to residents (N = 307) who visited the Utah County Health Department (UCHD) during the study period. Respondents were divided into an Environmental Health Group (<i>n</i> = 110), who purchased a radon kit, and Vital Records Control Group (<i>n</i> = 197), who filed/obtained birth/death certificates at UCHD. Ninety percent responded they had never tested their homes for radon, and 99% were not aware of state policies regarding radon. Support for various radon policies was significantly associated with older age (odds ratios (OR): 0.37–0.52), being female (OR: 2.60–7.79), lower annual family income (OR: 2.27), and theoretical constructs of behavioral modeling (OR: 2.31–2.55) and risk perception (OR: 2.55–3.71). To increase awareness, testing, and remediation, respondents suggested increasing public education/awareness, requiring testing in homes, businesses, and public buildings, and increasing access to testing. Multi-sectoral radon risk reduction programs could incorporate behavioral modeling and risk perception as components to create a radon testing and mitigation culture in Utah.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1016radon policyradon testingpolicy perspectivesradon in homes |
| spellingShingle | M. Lelinneth B. Novilla James D. Johnston John D. Beard Lucas L. Pettit Siena F. Davis Claire E. Johnson Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation Atmosphere radon policy radon testing policy perspectives radon in homes |
| title | Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation |
| title_full | Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation |
| title_fullStr | Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation |
| title_short | Radon Awareness and Policy Perspectives on Testing and Mitigation |
| title_sort | radon awareness and policy perspectives on testing and mitigation |
| topic | radon policy radon testing policy perspectives radon in homes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1016 |
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