Lung Association Congratulates Student Winners of Annual Statewide Radon Poster Contest

The American Lung Association and the Indiana Department of Health congratulate the winners of the 2025 Indiana Radon Poster contest. The annual contest raises awareness of radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in non-smokers.

One out of every 15 homes in the United States have elevated levels of radon. Schools are the second largest source of radon exposure for students and staff as they spend nearly eight hours inside these buildings five days a week for nearly 10 months.

Middle school students across Indiana were eligible to participate in the poster contest to help promote radon awareness. This year’s winners are:

The 2025 poster winners and their prizes include:

• 1st place – Lujza Estrera, Hamilton Intermediate High School ($200)
• 2nd place – Miren Kiley, Hamilton Intermediate High School ($150)
• 3rd place – Andre Manalo, Hamilton Intermediate High School ($100)

Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium in the soil. It is found in all 50 states and may enter a home or school through cracks in the foundation and other openings.  The Environmental Protection Agency recommends all homes or buildings with radon levels at or equal to 4 picocuries per liter install a radon mitigation system.

“Radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year and it’s amazing to see the creativity and awareness the children use to highlight the dangers of radon in their communities," said Alexis Gigliello, Nationwide Manager for Indoor Air Quality at the Lung Association. “The only way to detect radon in schools is to test. A nationwide survey by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates one in five schools has at least one schoolroom with a short-term radon level above the action level of 4.0 pCi/L. It also finds more than 70,000 schoolrooms have high short-term radon levels.”

This summer, the Lung Association is launching the Clean Air School Challenge to empower K-12 schools to create healthier learning environments and improve children’s health. Participating schools will receive training, mentorship, technical assistance and more as they advance on their journey towards cleaner indoor air and energy efficiency for students, staff and families. This program will play a valuable role in addressing radon reduction in schools. Learn more at Lung.org/CASC.
 

“We truly appreciate the time, energy, and work students across the state put into their posters,” said Paul Krievins, Director of the Lead and Healthy Homes Division at the Indiana Department of Health. “These posters will help Hoosiers throughout the state better understand why radon is dangerous and how testing and mitigation can make all the difference in a family’s health.”

The Lung Association and the Indiana Department of Health and Human Services selected this year’s winners.  The first-place winner of the Indiana Radon Poster Contest will be entered into the 2026 National Radon Poster Contest. Details for the 2026 contest will be announced on its website at Indiana Radon Poster Contest.

For questions about radon or to test your home, visit Lung.org/radon or contact the Indiana Radon HelpLine at 1-800-272-9723.

For more information on the poster and video contest please contact Janye Killelea via email at [email protected] or call (312) 940-7624.