LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The White Ribbon Project has partnered with Protect Environmental to offer free radon tests to homeowners.

What You Need To Know

  • Radon gas is the second leading cause for lung-cancer

  • It’s a naturally occurring gas that can be found in spaces where people live, work and learn

  • Radon gas can be found in more than 40% of buildings in Kentucky

  • The White Ribbon Project is raising awareness for lung cancer 

In Oct. 2018, Heidi Onda was diagnosed with stage 3A non-small cell inoperable lung cancer.

“It was a shock to me and my family. Being a lifelong health enthusiast and a fitness trainer, married to a primary care physician. We didn’t know anyone with lungs could get lung cancer until it happened to me,” said Onda. 

Onda isn’t a smoker.

Her family tested their Colorado home for radon.

“It came back with our levels, which were high. Twice the actionable level,” she said. 

The EPA’s actionable level of radon is four PCi/L  - equivalent to 200 chest x-rays a year or a pack of cigarettes a day.

Onda’s level was twice that.

“My first thoughts went to my kids because that basement was their preschool playmate area for years. Then turned into the high school hangout and then in college bring the friend’s home. But then I was thinking, I’m the one with it right now. It was kind of weird that two years before my diagnosis, we became empty nesters and converted it to a cardio gym space. And that’s when I was on my elliptical every day for at least an hour, seven days a week for those two years, and then I had this diagnosis,” said Onda. 

According to Protect Environmental, radon gas can be also be found in more than 40% of buildings in Kentucky.

“Here in Kentucky, we are over the largest cave system in the world. And radon travels freely through the caves when you talk about getting over near the zoo, for example. Louisville down under, we have pockets where the levels are quite high,” said Protect Environmental CEO Kyle Hoylman. 

Onda started the white ribbon project to raise awareness of lung cancer. The project encourages people to hang giant white ribbons on their doors, and test their homes for radon.

“It really is a risk no one needs to take,” said Onda. 

If you want to get your home tested, you can order a free or low-cost radon test kit online, or you check radon levels in your neighborhood. 

The White Ribbon Project is seeking people to host a ribbon building event. If interested, email info@thewhiteribbonproject.org

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