Patricia Andric is a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and member of the UtahRadon.org advisory board. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she’s also making an impact in her community to reduce the number of radon-induced illnesses and deaths.
Patricia learned about radon in 2023 when she moved to Utah and was offered an optional radon test during her home inspection. She passed since she was not aware of the dangers of radon, and she now wishes she had educated herself on radon sooner.
Two years later, she tested her home after spotting a Utah Radon Services vehicle at her neighbor’s house and found out she and her family had been living in a home with elevated radon levels. “It’s heartbreaking that new home developments are being built without radon home mitigation systems, and home buyers and landlords are not required to radon test their homes before purchase or lease,” shared Patricia. “We wish we would have taken the time to educate ourselves about radon gas when we had the chance in 2023. We feel living in Utah and being exposed to radon gas is not safe and healthy for our family.”
After mitigating her home, she brainstormed ways to educate her community with her husband. They decided to start where their kids spend the most time outside their home—their local elementary school. Conversations with staff turned into conversations with the district, which led to all Weber School District schools implementing regular radon tests. “Our goals are to have radon mitigation systems installed in schools throughout Utah to ensure staff and students are safe from high levels of radon.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it’s estimated that over 70,000 schoolrooms have high radon levels. It’s more important than ever to spread the word about radon exposure and its risks, which include lung cancer and childhood leukemia, to keep Utahns safe. You can copy the message below to send to your child’s school’s administration.
“Hi [name of school contact], my name is [your name] and my child goes to [school name]. I recently learned that over 70,000 schoolrooms and 50% of Utah homes have high radon levels, and I’m concerned about my child being exposed at school. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and can lead to childhood leukemia, among other illnesses. Weber School District recently implemented regular radon testing after hearing concerns from a mom in their district, and I’m hoping you can get me in contact with someone who can help us do the same. What would be the next best step?”
You can also get a free test for your home mailed directly to you by filling out this form. All Utah residents need to know that radon gas is in the soil all throughout Utah, and it can’t be detected by our senses. Together, we can save Utahns from preventable illnesses through education, awareness, and testing.
