THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN PARTS BY GRANTS FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY AND THE KENTUCKY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, FROM A GRANT FROM THE ANTHEM FOUNDATION.

>> EVERY DAY OUR LUNG HEALTH IS UNDER THREAT BY AN ARRAY OF FORCES, ENVIRONMENTAL AIR POLLUTION, TOBACCO SMOKE AND E-CIGARETTES, RADON GAS AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS LIKE COVID-19.

AND THIS PROGRAM, WE TALK WE CANS PERTS ABOUT THESE HAZARDS AND THE RISKS THEY POSE TO THE LUNG HEALTH OF ALL KENTUCKIANS.

BUT PARTICULARLY THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.

>> THE SINGLE MOST PREVENTIBLE CAUSE OF A LOT OF THE CHRONIC DISEASES WE HAVE IS OUR AIR.

>> Renee: THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR SERIES "FIGHTING TO BREATHE" WHERE WE EXAMINE THE UNDERTOLD STORY OF LUNG DISEASE IN KENTUCKY, INCLUDING LUNG CANCER, C.O.P.D., AND ASTHMA.

EXPLORE THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN TREATMENTS AND MEET HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND ADVOCATES ACROSS THE STATE WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO HELP US ALL BREATHE EASIER.

WELCOME TO FIGHTING TO BREATHE, KET'S THREE-PART SERIES ON LUNG DISEASE IN KENTUCKY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

EVERY MINUTE OUR LUNGS ARE FIGHTING OFF UNWANTED PARTICLES, TOXINS AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXAMINE THE MAJOR THREATS TO LUNG HEALTH, ESPECIALLY IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN BY LOOKING AT COVID-19, WHICH HAS SHOWN US THE DEVASTATING IMPACT A VIRUS CAN HAVE WHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEMMING OVERWHELMED.

I SPOKE WITH Dr. SRINADH ANNANGI, PULMONOLOGIST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LUNGS DURING A PROLONGED FIGHT WITH COVID-19 AND THE ALARMING RISE OF PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS MONTHS AFTER INFECTION WITH WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS LUNG COVID.

Dr. SRINADH ANNANGI THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT COVID-19 DOES TO THE LUNGS, RIGHT?

WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE, THE DAMAGE EITHER SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO END UP ON A VENTILATOR.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE'S LUNGS DURING THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE PROGRESSION?

>> IT'S A WILD DISEASE WHEN IT INFECTS THE LUNGS, IT IS DIFFUSE AVELOR DAMAGE, IT DAMAGES THE WHOLE LUNGth AND IN THE PROCESS OF HEALING, THE LUNGS CAN BE SCARRED EVENTUALLY.

AND OTHER THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IS THIS COVID-19 VIRUS WILL ALSO MAKE THE CHANCE OF HAVING BLOOD CLOTS INSIDE THE LUNGS MOREOVER, IT'S NOT JUST A DISEASE OF THE LUNGS, IT'S PROBABLY A DISEASE OF THE BODY AS A WHOLE.

BUT AS THE PORT OF ENTRY IS THE LUNGS, THE LUNGS ARE THE MOST AFFECTED.

BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE.

>> Renee: COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THE LUNGS ARE TRYING TO FUNCTION WHEN THEY'RE IN WHATEVER DISEASE STATE OF COVID, WHEN IT BECOMES THAT SEVERE.

>> AS THE DISEASE PROGRESSES, THE AIR SACKS WHERE THE AIR GETS FILLED, THOSE SACKS ARE FILLED WITH THE INFLAMMATION FLUID TO THE POINT WHERE OXYGEN CANNOT TRAVEL IN BETWEEN THE LUNGS AND THE BLOOD.

AT THAT POINT, THE BODY IS NOT GETTING ANY OXYGEN FROM THE LUNGS.

AND THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE WILL BE STARTED ON OXYGEN INITIALLY AND AS IT GETS WORSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY A VENTILATOR AND SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE NEED TO BE ON ELK MOW MACHINE-- HIVE ECHO M-- AN ECHMO MACHINE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH AND WE CANNOT KEEP THEM ALIVE.

>> Renee: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE OF COVID TO THE LUNGS?

>> SO IT IS AN EVOLVING TOPIC AND WE ARE KNOWING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

SO NOW WE HAVE A SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC TERM FOR THAT WHICH IS CALLED POST ACUTE SARS COV 2.

THE PEOPLE CALLED LONG HAULER, LONG-TERM COVID.

PAC IS MORE SCIENTIFIC.

IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING ANY RESPIRATOR DISEASE OR ANY ILLNESS HAD THEY COME TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY WILL BE SICK AND EVENTUALLY RECOVER AND BACK TO THEIR BASELINE BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE COVID.

THE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROLONGED SYMPTOMS, BE IT BE SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR COUGH OR LOSS OF TASTE, LOSS OF SMELL OR FATIGUE OR SOMETIMES THEY CALL IT LIKE FOG MIND, WHERE THEY FEEL CLOUDY PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME SO THEY'RE HAVING THE SYMPTOMS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

SO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS SYMPTOMS IS IT DIRECTLY FROM THE COVID OR IS IT BECAUSE UNMASKING SOMETHING THEY ALREADY HAVE FROM THE COVID?

>> HOW IS YOUR BREATHING?

>> I'M STILL HAVING SHORTNESS OF BREATH SOME.

>> OKAY.

>> VERY FATIGUED,.

>> Renee: AT THE PULMONARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE DOCTOR TREATS A WIDE RANGE OF RESPIRATORY ISSUES INCLUDING THOSE CAUSED BY COVID-19 INFECTIONS.

IN ADDITION TO CONSULTATIONS WITH Dr. SRINADH ANNANGI, THE CLINIC OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART PULMONARY FUNCTIONING TESTING AND REHABILITATION TRAINING DESIGNED TO INCREASE MUSCLE STRENGTH AND IMPROVE LUNG FUNCTION.

LISA HEARST IS AN EMPLOYEE AT HARRISON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BUT SHE IS ALSO A PATIENT OF Dr. ANNANGI INFECTED WITH COVID-19 IN DECEMBER 2020.

>> A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY TOLD ME I HAD COVID, I ANTICIPATED A WEEK.

I'LL BE DOWN FOR A WEEK.

AND THEN I'LL BE BACK TO NORMAL.

AND I WASN'T.

I REALIZED THAT I WASN'T MY NORMAL SELF BY SPRING.

BY THE TIME IT GOT TO BE WARM, I WAS STILL HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.

WALKING TO MY CAR AT THE END OF THE DAY EVEN WAS A STRUGGLE; WHEREAS BEFORE, I WOULD SOMETIMES WALK AFTER WORK A MILE OR TWO.

AND I WASN'T EVEN MAKING IT TO MY CAR WITHOUT GASPING.

>> Renee: LISA EVENTUALLY SOUGHT THE HELP OF Dr. ANNANGI AND HE DETERMINED HER LUNGS WERE NOT PERMANENTLY DAMAGED OR SCARRED IN ANY WAY.

>> I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.

THERE WASN'T ANY BLOOD CLOTS IN THERE, THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE TO MY LUNGS BUT I WAS STILL BASICALLY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT COVID IS A DISEASE THAT AFFECTS YOUR ENTIRE BODY, NOT JUST YOUR LUNGS.

AND THAT FATIGUE WAS PROBABLY MORE TO BLAME FOR THE SHORTNESS OF BREATH THAN MY LUNGS.

WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO, MY MUSCLES WERE HAVING TO WORK HARDER TO DO WHAT THEY WERE DOING BEFORE, CAUSING ME TO BE OUT OF BREATH.

MY MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE IS TAKE IT SERIOUSLY: I THINK YOU HAD SHOULD REALIZE THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL, IT CAN TAKE A TOLL ON YOU.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO JUST CLEAR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

YOU MAY OR YOU MAY NOT.

>> WHILE THE SCIENCE SURROUNDING THE CORONAVIRUS IS STILL EVOLVING, IT'S CLEAR THAT EVEN PEOPLE WITH A MILD CASE OF COVID-19 CAN BE SUBJECT TO LONG COVID WHICH IS ONE MORE REASON TO GET VACCINATED AND AVOID INFECTION.

IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT, WE LOOK AT OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION BOTH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE.

Dr. WAYNE TUCKSON, HOST OF KENTUCKY HEALTH, TALKED WITH TED SMITH, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR AIR, WATER AND SOIL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR AIR QUALITY AND A UNIQUE STUDY INVESTIGATING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TREES AND HEALTHY AIR.

>> TED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

IN 1970, THE CLEAN AIR CLEAN AIR ACT WAS PASSED.

AND, IN THE UNITED STATES, AIR HAS GOTTEN BETTER BUT I DON'T THINK WE COULD SAY THAT IT IS REALLY ALL THAT GOOD, AT LEAST I WOULDN'T WANT TO.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW THREATS EMERGING AND WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY IN OUR HEALTH?

>> I MEAN ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A VERY AWFUL TIME INDUSTRIALLY IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

I GREW UP IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ALSO A CITY THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY IF YOU WANTED TO SEE WHERE WERE YOU GOING.

AND SO ABSOLUTELY WE ARE NOT OR DEALING WITH POLLUTION THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT ANYMORE IN MOST OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL POLLUTED AIR.

AND WHILE WE HAVE DEFINITELY TACKLED THE POLLUTION THAT YOU CAN SEE IN MANY CASES, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS, WE ARE LEARNING THAT THESE VERY, VERY SMALL PARTICLES, ULTRAFINE PARTICLES ARE A NEW FRONTIER, NOT REGULATED BY THE CLEAN AIR CLEAN AIR ACT.

WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT OUR TOXICS, ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND WHAT THEIR HEALTH EFFECTS ARE.

AND SO WHILE WE HAVE PRAYED PROGRESS ON THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THE THINGS WE CAN'T SEE THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPAIRING OUR HEALTH AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE NEVER ENDING CHALLENGE FOR US.

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, ARE THEY EFFECTING US ALL OF US EQUALLY OR CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION HIT HARDER THAN OTHERS.

>> I THINK THE WORD HIT IS A REALLY GOOD WORD.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE, RIGHT, NOT TALKING ABOUT A TRAUMATIC EVENT, NOT A INFECTIOUS DISEASE THAT MIGHT TAKE YOU DOWN IMMEDIATELY BUT THE THINGS THAT ACCUMULATE OVER YOUR LIFE, HITS IS A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT SO WE ARE, AT SOME LEVEL, ACCUMULATING DIFFERENT KINDS OF HITS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE BORN INTO CIRCUMSTANCES OR PUT INTO CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THERE IS A BIG LEDGER OF HITS.

MAYBE THEY'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CONSTANTLY STRESSFUL.

MAYBE THEY'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS NOT ADEQUATE SELECTION OF FOODS, RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU ADD AIR POLLUTION ON TOP OF THAT.

AND YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCUMULATED A BUNCH OF OTHER HITS, THAT HIT COULD BE THE THING THAT TIPS YOU, RIGHT, TOWARDS METABOLIC DISEASE, TOWARDS DEPRESSION, TOWARDS A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS, AND SO IT REALLY IS A SITUATION OF SOME PEOPLE ARE OR DEALING WITH A SHALLOW LEDGER AND SOME PEOPLE ARE OR DEALING WITH A DEEP LEDGER AND WE REALLY NEED TO DO TRUE COST ACCOUNTING OF ALL THESE HITS.

>> LET'S TAKE A MORE MACRO SCOPIC VIEW AND TALK ABOUT TREE CANOPIES.

WE KNOW THAT IN PLACES WHERE THERE ARE NO TREES, HEALTH INDICES GO UP AND RESPIRATORY PROBS ARE UP.

AND POLLUTION IS UP.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE TREE CANOPIES, WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION?

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.

THE PARALLEL OF WE SEE THE PHENOMENA, WE SEE TREES AND PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE DISEASE AND WE SEE NO TREES AND PEOPLE HAVE DISEASE AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SAY, WELL THEN, TREES CAUSE GOOD HEALTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

AND I THINK MANY EDUCATED OR PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THINK WELL, IS IT THAT SIMPLE?

AND YOU KNOW TELL ME EXACTLY WHY THAT WOULD BE.

OUR APPROACH TO INTERROGATING THE QUESTION DOES VEGETATION LIKE TREES CAUSE GOOD HEALTH OR REDUCE DISEASE RISK?

WE ARE TESTING IT IN A VERY LARGE CLINICAL TRIAL, COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICAL TRIAL CALLED THE GREEN HEART PROJECT HERE IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE.

IT'S THE ONLY THE ONLY CLINICAL TRIAL THAT IS REGISTERED AS A DRUG TRIAL AND YOU WILL SEE WHERE IT WOULD SAY MEDICATION, IT SAYS TREES AND BUSHES.

WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH 22,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THEM AND WE HAVE DIVIDED THEM INTO AN INTERVENTION AND CONTROL SO SOME PEOPLE GET THE MEDICATION AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T AND WE HOPE TO SEE WHETHER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WHETHER THE VEGETATION LIKE A DRUG CAUSES GOOD HEALTH OR NOT.

>> WHAT WALKS YOU UP IN THE MORNING, THAT WALKS YOU UP AND SAYS I'M EXCITED TO DO THIS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A TOOL TO WORK WITH AND I'M EXCITED.

I FEEL LIKE A I FOUND A TOOL THAT LOOKS REALLY USEFUL AND IF WE CAN WORK WITH IT AND REALLY LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTS, NOT BLAME PEOPLE FOR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES NOT HIDE FROM THINGS THAT LOOK THIEK TOO HARD BUT ESSENTIALLY, LET'S COMMIT OURSELVES TO HAVING HEALTHY EQUITABLE PLACES, THAT'S AWESOME, RIGHT?

>> IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

>> IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Renee: ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, 40% OF AMERICANS ARE IMPACTED BY UNHEALTHY AIR AND THE THREAT FROM DEADLY PARTICLE POLLUTION INCREASES EVERY CLEAR.

IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT, WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO RADON GAS, SOMING THAT'S LURKING IN MANY OF OUR HOMES AT HIGH LEVELS UNDETECTED.

Dr. WAYNE TUCKSON SPOKE WITH KYLE HOYLMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RADON SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS AND C.E.O.

OF PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL, WHICH TESTS AND TREATS HOMES FORAY DONE.

>> KYLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

I THINK FIRST OFF, TELL ME, WHAT IS RADON?

>> WELL, RADON IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING RAICT RADIOACTIVE GAS THAT COMES FROM URANIUM.

YOU CAN'T SEE IT OR TASTE IT OR SMELL IT SO IT'S INVISIBLE.

AND AT TIES, THAT MAKES PEOPLE WONDER IF IT'S REAL WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT THEN?

BECAUSE IT'S THE LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER AMONG NON-SMOKERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> THIS IS PERSONAL FOR YOU.

>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH RAY RADON.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M A CANCER SURVIVOR MYSELF.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MY CANCER MAY BE TIED TO RADON EXPOSURE.

I GREW UP IN SOUTHERN OHIO IN A TREE FARM.

WE WERE IN THAT HOUSE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

AND COME TO FIND OUT, THE HOME TESTED ALMOST AT 30, WHICH IS THE RADIATION DOSE OF ALMOST 1500 ANNUAL CHEST X-RAYS.

HIGH DOSE OF RADIATION.

IN 2008, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY DAD-- I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS.

I HAVE LUNG CANCER.

THAT'S HOW HE DELIVERED IT.

PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

UNFORTUNATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, HE WAS GONE.

NON-SMOKER WAS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS THAT WE WERE AWARE OF.

HE WAS EXPOSED TO RADON.

>> TAKE ME THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF RADON HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> LET'S START WITH NATIONAL STATISTICS.

THE E.P.A.

WOULD ESTIMATE THAT OUR TYPICAL HOME HAS A RADON CONCENTRATION OF 1.3, THAT IS THAT IS CONTRASTED TO KENTUCKY WITH 6.7 AROUND 7% OF OUR BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTAIN RADON PROBLEM.

HERE IN METROPOLITAN LOUISVILLE, IT'S 58%.

IF YOU GO TO FAYETTE COUNTY, LEXINGTON, IT'S 65%.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE BOWLING GREEN AREA, IT'S MUCH HIGHER.

ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH, IT'S RIGHT AT 43%.

>> HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MEASURING RADON?

HOW DO YOU GET THOSE NUMBERS?

MEASUREMENT IS PCI ALREADY L. WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE AIR WE ARE BREATHING AND WE DO THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF DEVICES, SMALL DEVICES, CHARCOAL.

SO WE ABSORB WHAT IS IN THE AIR.

WE RUN THAT THROUGH A GAS SPECTROMETER AND WE ARE ABLE TOAGE ISIS THE GAMMA THAT COMES OUT OF THE CHARCOAL.

>> BEE GO IN YOU DO THE TESTING AND HAVE ELEVATED RADON LEVEL, NOW WHAT.

>> WE CAN MITIGATE THE OCCUPANT EXPOSURE TO RADON IN THE HOME AND WE DO THAT THROUGH TWO PRIMARY METHS ON.

THE MOST PREVALENT IS ACTIVE SOIL DEPRESSURIZATION.

THINK OF IT BEING A GLORIFIED VACUUM SYSTEM FOR THE SUBFOUNDATION AREA OF YOUR HOME.

SO RADON COMES INTO THE HOME BY PREFERENTIAL PATHWAYS, CRACKS, GAPS, SEWER AREAS AND WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST SUCK THE RADON OUT FROM THE HOME BEFORE IT CAN COME IN THE HOPE AND DISCHARGE IT ABOVE THE HOME WHERE IT CAN DILUTE SAFELY IN OUTDOOR AIR.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS THAT MANY OF US HAVE ABOUT RADON.

>> WE HEAR STUFF ALL THE TIME.

WELL, IF THE BUILDING ISN'T LOCATED OVER A BASEMENT, THEN IT CAN'T HAVE A RADON PROBLEM.

IF YOU HAVE A WALK-OUT BASEMENT, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A RADON PROBLEM.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU HAVE A SOURCE, IF YOU HAVE A PATHWAY INTO THE BUILDING, AND IF YOU HAVE A DRIVING FORCE, YOU WILL HAVE A RADON PROBLEM.

>> HEY, GUYS, HOW IS SCOO WILL?

>> GOOD.

>> NATALIE DAFN DAVENPORT IS ONE HOMEOWNER WHO NEVER SUSPECTED HER HOME COULD BE FILLED WITH RADON.

>> THIS IS MY DREAM HOUSE.

MY HUSBAND UNDERSTAND A MOVE HEERD ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

-- WE MOVED HERE THREE YEARS AGO.

THIS IS HIS FAMILY FARM.

WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO LEAVE THE CITY LIFE SO WE BUILT THIS HOUSE AND WE HAVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

OUR CONTRACTOR ASKED US IF WE WANTED TO PUT IN A RADON MITIGATION SYSTEM AS THEY WERE BUILDING THE HOUSE AND I DECLINED.

IT WAS A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY AND IT REALLY, RADON WAS NOT SOMETHING ON MY RADAR AT THE TIME.

SO I TOLD THEM NO WE WOULD BE FINE.

>> THANKFULLY NATALIE FOUND OUT ABOUT A NEW STUDY DESIGNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CALLED RADON ON THE RADAR, TARGETED TO FOUR KENTUCKY COUNTIES WITH HIGH RADON LEVELS.

>> THE MAIN GOAL OF THE RADON ON THE RAY RADAR STUDY IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE FOUR RURAL COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO TEST THEIR HOME AND AFFORD RADON MITIGATION WHEN HIGH LEVELS OF RADON ARE FOUND.

>> FATLY SIGNED UP TO BE A CITIZEN SCIENTIST WITH THE STUDY.

AS A CITIZEN SCIENTIST, SHE RECEIVED EDUCATION ABOUT RADON, ALLOWED HER SOIL TO BE TESTED BY GEOLOGISTS FROM THE KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND RECEIVED A DIGITAL MEASURING DEVICE TO MEASURE HER RADON LEVELS.

>> THE FIRST RADON TEST WAS HIGHER THAN I THOUGHT.

THE TESTING SHOULD BE LESS THAN 4.

THAT'S WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SAFE ZONE.

BUT OUR FIRST TEST WAS OVER 30 SO THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF, I BROUGHT MY CHILDREN TO THIS GREAT HOME, GOT THEM OUT OF THE CITY SO THEY COULD GROW UP WITH ALL THIS FRESH AIR IN THE COUNTRY AND THEN OUR HOUSE IS FILLED WITH RADON SO I PANICKED A LITTLE BIT.

EVERYBODY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WERE SO KIND AND TALKED ME OFF THE LEDGE AND THEY HELPED US FIND A MITIGATION SYSTEM.

I WAS CALLING TO TELL YOU ABOUT A RADON STUDY.

>> NATALIE'S RADON LEVELS ARE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS AND SHE IS SPREADING THE WORD THROUGHOUT HER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RADON TESTING.

>> WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LUNG CANCER, YOU THINK ABOUT SMOKING AND SMOKING IS SUCH A BIG THING IN KENTUCKY BUT RADON IS RIGHT THERE WITH IT.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE SOME RADON... >> AS PART OF THE RADON ON THE RADAR STUDY DIGITAL RADON DETECTORS ARE BEING PLACED IN COMMUNITY LIBRARIES IN EACH OF THE FOUR COUNTIES.

>> WE HAD 25 KITS AVAILABLE.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE GOOD PROBLEM OF NOT HAVING ANY KITS AVAIL AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE WAIT TO GET THEM.

THAT THEY ARE THAT POPULAR ONE DAY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF RADON DANGER TO THEM AND THERE I FAMILY.

>> THIS IS OUR RADON MITIGATION SYSTEM.

>> NATALIE RECEIVED A VOUCHER FROM THE RADON ON THE RADAR STUDY TO RECUSE THE COST OF MITIGATION TO HER HOUSE.

SHE KNOWS THE MITIGATION COSTS ARE A BARRIER FOR MANY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE SO EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR HOME MITIGATED.

>> WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AND CONTACTING AWE KINDS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE RADON MITIGATION AFFORDABLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO EVERYONE.

WE ARE UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE AND UNTIL WE CAN MAKE RADON MITIGATION AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, WE WON'T STOP.

>> THE STATE OF KENTUCKY OFFERS FREE CHARCOAL RADON TESTING TO ALL KENTUCKIANS.

PLEASE VISIT THE STATE'S RADON PROGRAM WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

OF ALL THE THREATS TO OUR LUNGS, TOBACCO SMOKE IS BY FAR NUMBER 1.

SMOKING HARMS NEARLY EVERY ORGAN IN THE BODY.

AND IS A MAIN CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE OR C.O.P.D.

I SPOKE WITH ELLEN HAHN DIRECTOR OF BREATHE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ABOUT THE IMMENSE TOLL OF SMOKING ON THE LUNG HEALTH OF OUR STATE YOU KNOW, NO ONE REALLY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT SMOKING AND WE HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SMOKING IN THIS STATE FOR A LONG TIME.

SOMETHING WE MUST ADDRESS WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LUNG DISEASE AND LUNG HEALTH.

WHERE DOES KENTUCKY STAND AGAINST THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO SMOKING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, RENEE, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE LEAD THE NATION IN SMOKING.

OUR LUNG CANCER CASES ARE OUT THE ROOF WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST ADULT SMOKING RATES IN THE COUNTRY STILL.

ABOUT 24% OF OUR ADULTS ARE REGULAR SMOKERS COMPARED TO 14% IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Renee: WHAT ROLE DOES SMOKING PLAY IN TERMS OF RATES OF LUNG CANCER AND C.O.P.D.?

>> AGAIN, KENTUCKY LEADS THE NATION, HAS THE DUBIOUS HONOR OF A HIGHER PROPORTION OF LUNG CANCER CASES AND EMSEEM AEMPHYSEMA IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH SMOKING RATES, GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF SMOKERS.

>> Renee: SECONDHAND SMOKE.

TALK ABOUT THE PERILS OF SECOND HAND SMOKE AND HOW THAT FACTORS?

>> IT FACTORS IN A LOT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NO THE A FIRSTHAND SMOKER, CHANCES ARE IN KENTUCKY, YOU ARE A SECONDHAND SMOKER.

BECAUSE WE KIND OF HAVE THE PERFECT STORM, IF YOU WILL.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT KENTUCKY IS IN THE EYE OF THE STORM BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE HIGH SMOKING RATES, WE HAVE WEAK PROTECTIONS BY AND LARGE.

ONLY ABOUT 37% OF OUR KENTUCKIANS ARE COVERED BY STRONG SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCES, MEANING THAT, YOU KNOW, A HUGE MAJORITY ARE NOT PROTECTED.

SO WE HAVE HIGH SMOKING RATES, WE HAVE WEAK LAWS.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXSUPPOSED TO SECONDHAND SMOKE AT WORK, HOME AND IN PUBLIC PLACES AND YOUTHS, YOU KNOW-- OF COURSE WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE AMONG OUR KIDS, AND 26% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS USE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND THAT'S NO MISTAKE BECAUSE THE HB INDUSTRY HAS TARGETED THEM AND HAS SLICK AD CAMPAIGNS ABOUT ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES.

THE TRUTH REMAINS, TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE NOT HARMLESS AND THEY'RE NOT CIGARETTE VAPOR.

>> Renee: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF VAPING ON THE LUNGS, SHORT AND LONG-TERM.

>> WELL, WE DO KNOW THAT ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE CAN CREATE SERIOUS LUNG INJURY.

IN FACT, PRIOR TO COVID, CDC WAS FOLLOWING E. CIGARETTE AND VAPING LUNG INJURY WHICH IS SERIOUS AND PEOPLE HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF USING E-CIGARETTES.

THEY'RE VERY HIGH IN NICOTINE.

THEY'RE VERY ADDICTIVE AND HIGH LEVEL OF METAL PARTICLES WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE INHALING METAL PARTICLES AND THEN THE PARTICLES THAT COME OUT OF THE AEROSOL ARE VERY TINY, ULTRAFINE WHICH MEANS THEY GET STUCK IN THE LUNGS, DEEP DOWN IN THE LUNGS AND CREATE HAVOC WITH LUNG AND HEART DISEASE.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT RADON.

WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DANGERS OF RADON IN THIS PROGRAM ALREADY.

ACCOUNTS FOR 20% OF LUNG CANCER CASES, HOW DOES SMOKING INDOORS MULTIPLY YOUR RISK FORAY DONE EXPOSURE?

>>-- FOR RADON EXPOSURE.

>> BREATHING RADON IS DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY AND EVEN MORE HARMFUL WHEN YOU ALSO BREATHE TOBACCO SMOKE SO THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT YOUR RISK OF GETTING LUNG CANCER BY BREATHING BOTH RADON AND TOBACCO SMOKE IS ABOUT 10 TIMES THE RISK.

>> SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SMOKING, POLLUTION, BUILDING ON EACH OTHER, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF CO-EXPOSURE AND HOW MUCH MORE OF A DANGER THAT CAN BE?

>> SO CO-EXPOSURE, THE IDEA OF THAT IS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ONE HAZARD.

YOU MAY BE EXPOSED TO AIR POLLUTION INSIDE FROM SMOKING, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THAT'S BAD ENOUGH.

AND THAT'S HARMFUL ENOUGH.

BUT THEN ADD ANOTHER EXPOSURE ON TOP OF THAT, AND YOU THINK THAT ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS 2, RIGHT?

BUT IT REALLY IS MORE LIKE ONE PLUS ONE PERHAPS EQUALS 10.

>> Renee: WE ALWAYS LIKE TO ASK PEOPLE, WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

I WANT TO ASK YOU, Dr. ELLEN HAHN, WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

>> IT'S PERSONAL.

I GREW UP IN A HOME.

BOTH MY PARENTS WERE HEAVY SMOKERS.

I LIVED IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN PENNSYLVANIA AND APPALACHIA AND WE WOULD DRIVE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO GO TO SYNAGOGUE AND THEY WOULD SMOKE IN THE CAR AND I NEVER SMOKED A DAY IN MY LIFE BUT I DEVELOPED SEVERE ASTHMA.

THE SINGLE MOST PREVENTIBLE CAUSE OF A LOT OF THE CHRONIC DISEASES WE HAVE IS OUR AIR.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR BETTER AIR WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE JUST NEED TO DO IT WE NEED THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO IT.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET THERE.

>> I HOPE SO.

WE ARE WORKING HARD WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS IN KENTUCKY AND SEEN AMAZING RESULTS FROM SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT FEWER KIDS SMOKE IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE STRONG COMPREHENSIVE SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE LAWS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DOCUMENT THAT.

FEWER PEOPLE GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EMPHYSEMA IF THEY LIVE IN A COMMUNITY LIKE LEXINGTON OR LOUISVILLE THAT HAS A STRONG SMOKE-FREE LAW.

WE HAVE SEEN FEWER ASTHMA ATTACKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE SEEN LOWER SMOKING RATES, ACTUALLY.

SO WE HAVE SOME SUCCESS STORIES TO CELEBRATE IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> Renee: FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO QUIT SMOKING AND NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT KET.ORG/RESPIRATORY.

FOR FOR MOTION OR TO WATCH AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF THIS PROGRAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF FIGHTING TO BREATHE.

REMEMBER, THAT ANYONE WITH LUNGS CAN GET LUNG DISEASE.

CLEAN AIR IS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE AND IS SOMING WE SHOULD ALL BE FIGHTING FOR.

BOTH FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KET, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.