Robertson Named to Kentucky Radon Advisory Committee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 12, 2012) − Heather Robertson, administrator of the Clean Indoor Air Partnership at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, was recently appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear to serve on the Kentucky Radon Advisory Committee. Robertson represents the Kentucky Cancer Consortium. Robertson replaces Goetz Kloecker and will serve the remainder of the unexpired term until June 30, 2013.

The Kentucky Radon Program Advisory Committee was created under KRS 211.9103 for administrative purposes to work with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services which is the regulatory agency tasked with the control of radon in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Cabinet is required to develop and conduct programs for evaluation and control of activities related to radon including laboratory analysis, mitigation, and measurements. This includes promulgating regulations to administer, coordinate, and enforce KRS 211.9101 to 211.9135, maintaining a list of all certified persons, establishing requirements for a quality control program plan for certified persons, and promoting control of radon in the Commonwealth. To learn more about the Kentucky Radon Program, please go to http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/info/phps/radongas.htm.

Robertson brings to the committee more than eight years of experience in the radon field with a focus on research initiatives and community engagement. She has been actively engaged in promoting awareness of radon exposure as a leading cause of lung cancer, as well as radon testing and mitigation as a way to prevent lung cancer.

She worked with UK faculty, staff, and students to build a Radon Policy Research Program which is housed within the Clean Indoor Air Partnership in the College of Nursing. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Exposure to radon and tobacco smoke increases lung cancer risk ten-fold. For more information about radon, go to the Radon Awareness Program at http://tinyurl.com/al7ab4u.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859) 342-3587 or ann.blackford@uky.edu