SCDES Encourages Students to Submit Entries for Annual Radon Poster Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 11, 2025
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is seeking entries for its annual Radon Poster Contest, which spotlights the potential dangers of radon gas.
2024 South Carolina Radon Poster Contest First Place winning poster by Colton of Clinton, S.C.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can enter homes through cracks and holes in the foundation, construction joints, and plumbing fixtures. Radon can have serious health impacts on people — according to the U.S. Surgeon General, it’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Any home can have a radon problem. The only way to determine if a home is trapping radon gas is to test. To help South Carolinians be informed about radon gas impacts on their homes, SCDES offers free radon test kits. Information for requesting a free test kit and an instructional video for how to use the kit are available at des.sc.gov/radon.
The annual Radon Poster Contest aims to raise awareness about the dangers of radon in homes in a creative way. South Carolina students ages 9-14 are eligible to enter this contest, and South Carolina educators are encouraged to have their students participate in the contest.
Gift card prizes ranging from $50-$150 will be awarded to top winners of the contest. Entries must be submitted to the South Carolina Radon program by Oct. 31, 2025. For eligibility requirements, judging criteria and more information, please visit des.sc.gov/radon.
