New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

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Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State places the highest priority on the health, safety and well-being of its citizens and supports initiatives that raise public awareness of serious issues, such as the quality of the air we breathe and potentially hazardous elements present in the atmosphere; and

Whereas, radon is an invisible, odorless and radioactive gas that is a dangerous health concern for the residents of New York State; and

Whereas, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer among Americans and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths in the United States annually; and

Whereas, any house may have an elevated level of radon even if other homes in the same neighborhood do not, and it is estimated that one in fifteen homes in the U.S. currently has an elevated radon level; and

Whereas, it is important that the public is informed about the existence and availability of safety and prevention measures regarding radon and know that testing for radon is simple, inexpensive and reliable; and

Whereas, the identified presence of radon, along with its associated problems and risks, can be corrected to significantly reduce the possibility of lung cancer; and

Whereas, the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency support efforts that encourage New Yorkers to test their homes for radon, mitigate elevated levels of radon, and build new homes with radon-resistant materials and features; and

Whereas, it is imperative that all New Yorkers learn about this serious health hazard and take vital steps to protect themselves and their loved ones, as well as the homes in which they live;

Now, Therefore, I, Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim January 2008 as Radon Action Month in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this twentieth day of December in the year two thousand seven.

Eliot Spitzer, Governor

Richard Baum, Secretary to the Governor