Drs. Thomas Nicholson, John White, and Ritchie Taylor of the Public Health Department created a map from data collected as part of the Kentucky Radon Program. In this program, radon testing kits are routinely distributed upon request throughout the State. The data for the current analyses were collected over a 10 year period between 1992 and 2002 (n = 35,642). Data are from a convenience sample of all home owners who requested test kits during this time period. The EPA recommends that their data be supplemented with any available local data in order to further understand and predict the radon potential of a specific area. The observed data do closely align with EPA estimates of radon levels across the State. Tables were generated showing the mean, median, minimum, maximum, range, standard deviation, and percentage of cases falling within EPA zones 1, 2, & 3. Observed radon levels varied from a low of 0 to a high of 1,875 pCi/L with a median of 3.0. Sixty-two percent of the State falls within zones 1 or 2. Using the GIS system, maps were created by zip code and county. These data are being used to educate citizens and staff of all Kentucky district/county health departments along with State legislators concerning radon risks.
The Kentucky Radon Program can be found at:
Radon Map of KY