Logan County Department of Public Health
offers free home Radon test kits
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[November 15, 2014]
LINCOLN - Did you know that radon is
the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States?
In fact, 21,000 people die from lung cancer related to radon each year.
Radon may be lurking in your home and is a hidden danger because you
cannot see it, smell it or taste it.
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Radon gas forms from the breakdown of uranium in soil and can enter
the home through cracks in foundation floors, walls, construction
joints and other openings. Radon gas, once in the home, decays into
radioactive particles. Once these particles are inhaled and trapped
in the lungs, they give off energy that can cause tissue damage
which may lead to lung cancer.
Logan County, in addition to much of Illinois, is rated by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as zone 1 meaning Logan County
is in a zone of highest potential for radon to be found at unsafe
levels. Regardless of which zone a home is located, any home has the
potential to contain unsafe levels of radon. Just because your
neighbor’s home tested safe for radon does not mean your home will
be safe. The only way to determine if your home is safe is to have
it tested.
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Radon testing is simple and can be done by using a home test kit. If
you have not tested your home yet, this is a good time to pick up
your free kit at the Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH)
while supplies last. Health department hours are Monday-Friday from
7:30am-4:30pm. The test kits are made available to the department
through a grant from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
If you have questions or would like more information, you can
contact the LCDPH at 217-735-2317. Additional radon information
can be found at
www.epa.gov/radon/pubs and
www.state.il.us/iema/radon/availpub.asp
Information Source: EPA, Illinois
Emergency Management Agency
[Don Cavi, Public Health
Administrator, Logan County Department of Public Health] |