Local Teens Launch Radon Awareness Initiative with Waverly Health Center
Students from Cedar Falls High School are working to reduce Iowa's radon-related cancer risk through a new community education initiative in partnership with Waverly Health Center.
The Youth Against Radon Initiative (YARI), founded by 16-year-old Cedar Falls High School sophomore Ahan Tandon, is led by five student volunteers: Ahan Tandon, Nigel Kidd, Mihai Thompson, Noah Lee and John Linney. Together, the students are working to increase awareness about radon and promote early detection and prevention.
The initiative's name, YARI, means friendship and reflects the collaboration behind the project. Tandon launched the effort in summer 2025 with support from his 4-H club, the Cedar Falls Hustling Clovers, and adult mentor Deborah Paulsen, a biology instructor at Cedar Falls High School.
The project was inspired after Tandon's family discovered elevated radon levels in their own home.
"A few years ago, we got a radon detection disc at home, and it got me thinking that if the radon levels in my home were that high, other people could have the same problem," Tandon said. "When I researched it, I realized Iowa has a huge radon and cancer problem. I wanted to find a way to help educate people and encourage them to test their homes."
This summer, YARI volunteers will provide radon education at the Waverly Health Center Shell Rock Clinic. Students will talk with patients and families about radon, demonstrate how to use radon detection kits and answer questions about home testing.
Eligible patients will also be able to receive free radon detection kits through participating primary care providers.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that can enter homes through cracks in foundations and basements. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all of Iowa is classified as Zone 1, the agency's highest-risk category for radon exposure. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.
"By incorporating education about radon into annual physicals, we hope this becomes a long-term preventive health effort," Tandon said.
Tandon connected with Waverly Health Center Foundation Director Lindy Ibeling, who helped support community outreach efforts and the initiative has already received strong community support. The group secured a $500 Pioneer Seed 4-H grant to help launch the project. Additional funding came from the Ann Rathe Endowment Fund, where Dr. Ann Rathe donated $3,600 to purchase 455 radon detection kits.
The team also partnered with Black Hawk County Health Department Environmental Health Director Jared Parmater, who helped identify postage-paid test kits that include laboratory analysis fees, making participation simple for families.
"Because of Ahan's project, I tested my own home for radon," Rathe said. "The level was high despite having a passive mitigation system, so I recently had a fan installed. This project demonstrates how one student's initiative can positively impact an entire community."
In addition to their clinic outreach efforts, YARI members plan to bring radon education to local families through STEM exhibits at the Black Hawk County and Bremer County fairs.
For Tandon, the project reflects one of the values he has learned through 4-H. "Of the four 4-H values of heart, head, hands and health, hands has always been my favorite," Tandon said. "Good intentions don't count if they are not backed up with action."
Waverly Health Center is proud to partner with YARI to increase awareness about radon and help families protect their health through early detection and prevention.
For more information about radon testing or Waverly Health Center's primary care services, visit WaverlyHealthCenter.org or speak with your primary care provider.