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High School Students as Citizen Scientists to Decrease Radon Exposure

Author

Listed:
  • Ellen J. Hahn

    (UK-CARES and BREATHE, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504 USA)

  • Craig Wilmhoff

    (Perry County Central High School, Hazard, KY 41701, USA)

  • Mary Kay Rayens

    (BREATHE, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504 USA)

  • Nicholas B. Conley

    (BREATHE, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504 USA)

  • Emily Morris

    (Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40505, USA)

  • Angela Larck

    (Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA)

  • Trista Allen

    (Fairfield Senior High School, Fairfield, OH 45014, USA)

  • Susan M. Pinney

    (Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA)

Abstract

Residents in rural Kentucky (KY) and suburban Ohio (OH) expressed concerns about radon exposure and lung cancer. Although 85% of lung cancer cases are caused by tobacco smoke, radon exposure accounts for 10–15% of lung cancer cases. Academic and community members from the University of KY and the University of Cincinnati developed and pilot-tested a family-centered, youth-engaged home radon testing toolkit. The radon toolkit included radon information, and how to test, interpret, and report back findings. We educated youth as citizen scientists and their teachers in human subjects protection and home radon testing using the toolkit in the classroom. Youth citizen scientists explained the study to their parents and obtained informed consent. One hundred students were trained in human subjects protection, 27 had parental permission to be citizen scientists, and 18 homeowners completed surveys. Radon values ranged from < 14.8 Bq/m 3 to 277.5 Bq/m 3 . Youth were interested and engaged in citizen science and this family-centered, school-based project provided a unique opportunity to further the healthy housing and quality education components of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Further research is needed to test the impact of student-led, family-centered citizen science projects in environmental health as part of school curricula.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellen J. Hahn & Craig Wilmhoff & Mary Kay Rayens & Nicholas B. Conley & Emily Morris & Angela Larck & Trista Allen & Susan M. Pinney, 2020. "High School Students as Citizen Scientists to Decrease Radon Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9178-:d:458853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathryn M. Cardarelli & Marcy Paul & Beverly May & Madeline Dunfee & Steven Browning & Nancy Schoenberg, 2019. "“Youth Are More Aware and Intelligent than Imagined”: The Mountain Air Youth Photovoice Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kathryn M. Cardarelli & Melinda Ickes & Luz Huntington-Moskos & Craig Wilmhoff & Angela Larck & Susan M. Pinney & Ellen J. Hahn, 2021. "Authentic Youth Engagement in Environmental Health Research and Advocacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Florence Gignac & Caterina Solé & Jose Barrera-Gómez & Cecilia Persavento & Èlia Tena & Mónica López-Vicente & Jordi Júlvez & Jordi Sunyer & Digna Couso & Xavier Basagaña, 2021. "Identifying Factors Influencing Attention in Adolescents with a Co-Created Questionnaire: A Citizen Science Approach with Secondary Students in Barcelona, Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-19, August.

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