The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 19, 1989 - Page 3 EPA finds high levels of radon gas in homes WASHINGTON (AP) - Tests in eight states by the Environmental Protection Agency show surpris- ingly widespread concentrations of cancer-causing radon gas, including almost three of every four homes tested in Iowa, the agency said yes- terday. The latest results prompted EPA Administrator William Reilly to re- peat his agency's call for every homeowner to test for radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless and radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in all soil and rocks. Seeping from the ground and concen- trating in houses, radon has been blamed for up to 20,000 of the na- tion's more than 130,000 annual lung cancer deaths. "Radon is one of the most seri- ous environmental health problems today. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking) in this country," Reilly told a news conference. Reilly said radon tests have been conducted in 37,000 homes in 25 states during the past two years and about one-fourth showed unhealthy radon. The latest tests in the eight states and three regions of the Indian Health Service covered 11,268 homes. Overall, about 27 percent of the 9,876 non-Indian homes checked in the latest round showed radon above the EPA's recommended threshold. Not enough information was given to calculate a similar per- centage for all 11,268 homes, but the result would not change much. Reilly estimated that as many as 10 million homes nationwide could have year round-average radon ex- ceeding 4 picocuries per liter of air, which roughly equivalent to smok- ing a half pack of cigarettes a day and the concentration that EPA says should trigger corrective action by the homeowner. In an effort to boost radon test- ing, the Advertising Council an- nounced it is launching a national public service campaign to urge homeowners to test. Ruth Wooden, council president, said a survey of 1,000 people showed two-thirds believed radon to be a health concern, but only 14 per- cent planned to do anything about it. "People believe they are safe in their homes," she said. The latest tests covered Iowa, Georgia, Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, West Virginia, Vermont and Alaska as well as three Indian Health Service regions: Aberdeen, covering parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska; Bemidji, parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin; and Albuquerque, parts of Colorado and New Mexico. EPA officials were staggered by the Iowa results. Of 1,381 homes tested, 71 percent were above 4 picocuries per liter; 8 percent exceeded 20 picocuries. Officials said they had no explanation except that soils of Minnesota and South Dakota, where high radon was found last year, probably extend into Iowa. "Iowa is just saturated," said EPA spokesperson Martha Casey. f mm .. g: ... 'JOSH MOOHE-Daily Diag protest About 25 University students picketed on the Diag yesterday for the release of Palestinian Professor Riak Malki, detained in Israel this month. The students held Palestinian flags and signs, which said, "Israel: Education is a right nat a privilege; Reopen Palestinian schools; Release Riad Malki." IUDGET dontinued from Page 1 maintain its programs. It was not the first time students h4d faced tuition increases because the. University was unable to main- n programs without state funds. If e situation remains as it has been irk ihe last five years, it may not be tly last. For the past 10 years, the Uni- versity's budget has grown steadily, but the gap between the amount of state appropriations to student tu- ition fees and research indirect cost recovery dollars has steadily grown narrower. Every year state appropriations failed to meet the University's needs, tuition was raised. As a result, the proportion of state dollars to student tuition dollars in the University of Michigan's gen- eral funds - including all three campuses - has fallen. In 1979-80, state appropriations contributed 58.6 percent to the gen- eral fund and student tuition dollars accounted for 32.7 percent. In 1989-90 student tuition ac- counted 44.3 percent to the general funds while state dollars made up only 46.4 percent of the budget. JUSTICE Continued from Page 1 stands for. He is reactionary, racist, bigoted and anti-women."' Laur said several local groups are unified in their demands that Rehn- quist "reinstate and expand affirma- tive action, defend and expand abor- tion rights, and abolish all anti-les- bian/gay laws. He has been directing the court in a way that has been rolling back our rights." Law school administrators said they had heard of plans for a rally outside the Hall where Rehnquist will be speaking. Eklund said, "We trust it will be a peaceful demonstra- tion." The National Lawyers Guild ini- tially endorsed the rally, along with the Ann Arbor Committee to Defend Abortion Rights, Lesbian/Gay Law Students, Latin American Solidarity Committee, and the Lesbian and Gay Men's Organizing Committee. At the last minute, the guild de- cided to conduct a separate protest in order to specifically address recent civil rights decisions in a non-dis- ruptive manner, said guild member Dora Rose, a third-year law student. Restaurants to give percent of profits to local charity by Mike Fitzgibbon Eating out, something a lot of people in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti do regularly, will now benefit the hungry thanks to local restauranteurs. Today, 24 restaurants will give up to seven percent of their day's receipts to Food Gatherers, a local organi- zation that distributes food to needy people in the area. Food Gatherers calls this "The 7% Solution," and the group hopes Ann Arborites will support it by hav- ing a meal in a participating restaurant. Food Gatherers member Lisa De Young said the title of the day is because seven percent of the people in this country go hungry every day. The group's "solution" is to educate the public and raise funds for the hungry. The group distributes food donated by restaurants, caterers, and stores to various food distribution points in the Ann Arbor area. Part of the money raised from the day will help Food Gatherers buy a van for this pur- pose. Janet Ledford, a cook at the cooperatively-run Del Rio bar and grill, said the bar's employees recently ap- proved the Del Rio's participation. She said the Del Rio's contribution, based on its percentage, will proba- bly total $50 to $100. The Del Rio, she said, already gives food on a regu- lar basis. "Every weekend we donate enough beans, cheese, and tortillas to make 50 burritos," Ledford said. "It just seems like a wonderful idea to feed people who need food with community resources instead of having to use taxes." Food Gatherers works out of Zingerman's Deli- catessen. Although Zingerman's will not give a per- centage of its receipts to Food Gatherers, Paul Saginaw, an owner of the delicatessen, said, "We are a 'special participant."' "We provide support for Food Gatherers over the year, which comes out to about $40,000 in food, staff, and other services," he said. Zingerman's is "committed" to providing support for Food Gatherers until the group is self-sufficient, Sagi- naw said. Restaurants near campus participating in the effort include Afternoon Delight, American Subs, Bagel Fac- tory, Bicycle Jims, Escoffier, Expresso Royale, Jaques, Pizza Boh's .Raia Rani .eva. and Sotinni'. THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today Meetings Michigan Student Assembly Student Rights Commission - 5:30 p.m. in Union Rm. 3909 Earth Day Organizing Commit- tee - 7 p.m. in the Union 4th floor Palestine Solidarity Commit- tee - 7:30 p.m. in the lounge of the International Center Campus Crusade for Life - College Life meeting at 7 -8:30 p.m. in Kellogg Aud. Rm. 6005; enter in the dental school Rainforest Action Movement -- Rainforest Education in the Public Schools: Training & Workshops; preparation for World Rainforest Week; 7 p.m. in Dana Rm. 1040 Michigan Student Assembly Communications Committee - 7:30 p.m. in Union Rm. 3909 Speakers "Point-Process Estimation Problems in Positron-Emission Tomography" - Prof. Don Snyder (Washington U); 4-5:30 .pm. in EECS 1200 "Making the Empire Re- spectable: Race and Sexual lMIorality in Twentieth Century Colonial Culture" -Ann Stoler speaks at the CSST Series: "Power and the Discourse of So- cial Science"; 8 p.m. in LSA 4560 { "Pueblos, Plazas, and + Pothunter Holes: The 1989 Ex- cavations at the Homol'ovi } Ruins State Park, Winslow, Arizona" - a brown-bag lunch with Tineke Van Zandt; Natural Science Museum Rm. 4009 Guild House Writers Series - William Matthews and Laurence * Goldstein read and discuss their works; 8 p.m. at the Guild House "Dogon Fertility and Sexual Cycles" - Beverly Strassman of the Biology Dept. speaks at 4 p.m. in the East Lecture Rm. on the 3d floor of the Rackham Bldg.; part of the Evolution and Un mn )a.r. nmm..r. "The Present Political Climate in Israel and how it affects the US-Israel Relationship" - Nancy Schecter from the Jerusalem branch of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee speaks at 7 p.m. at Hillel K. Szego - the Director of the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, in Budapest Hungary speaks on an unannounced topic; 3:45 p.m. in the Space Research Bldg. Rm. 2231 Furthermore Pre-Interviews - Lockheed Missiles from 6-8 p.m. in EECS 1003; American Management Systems from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in 1301 EECS Applying to Medical School - 4:10-5 p.m. in Angell Hall Aud. A Recital - Bernard Bartelink, or- ganist from Holland, and flutist Johan van Kempen; 8 p.m. in the Music School's Moore Hall Women in Spirituality - a Journe Women gathering; 7:30 p.m. at the Guild House Mainstreet Comedy Showcase - Peter Berman; $8; 996-9080 Free tutoring - all 100/200 level math, science and engineer- ing courses; from 8-10 p.m. in Rm. 307 of the UGLi; sponsored by Tau Beta Pi Safewalk - the night-time walk- ing service is open seven days a week from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; 936-1000 Northwalk - North campus night-time walking service, Rm. 2333 Bursley; 8 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. or call 763-WALK "Ojibwa Basket Making: The Tradition Lives On" - the ex- hibit is on display from 9-5 at the U-M Exhibit Museum ECB peer writing tutors - available at Angell-Haven and 611 Computing Centers from 7 to 11 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday Music at Midday - Mezzo-So- prano by Alicia Hunter will be accompanied by Louise Toppin; 12:15 in the Union's Pendleton Hair Styling with a Flair - 7 Barber Stylists for MEN & WOMEN - NO WAITING!!! DASCOLA STYLISTS Opposite Jacobson's 668-9329 CINEMA DIRECTOR II III