IEMA, American Lung Association launch
Health House - Radon Excellence Program in Savoy
Two Champaign builders coordinating with
Heyworth radon mitigator in program to reduce radon-related lung cancer
risks in new homes
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[January 30, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD – A new home in Savoy
built with radon-resistant construction techniques and an activated
radon mitigation system is the standard officials with the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the American Lung Association in
Illinois (ALAIL) hope home builders across the state of Illinois soon
will adopt.
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IEMA and the ALAIL were in Savoy Wednesday to launch the Radon
Excellence – A Health House Program. Two Champaign builders,
Signature Homes and Ironwood Homes, were approved for the pilot
program. The builders partnered with radon mitigation contractor
Radon Remedies, Inc., of Heyworth on the project.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that comes from the
radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. It is
the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second
leading cause of lung cancer overall.
Elevated levels of the radioactive gas have been found in all 102
Illinois counties. IEMA estimates nearly 1,200 Illinois citizens die
from radon-related lung cancer each year.
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Illinois law requires new construction to include installation of a
passive radon mitigation system. The pilot program encourages
builders to ramp-up efforts to reduce levels of the cancer-causing
gas with installation of an active mitigation system.
“While passive systems may reduce radon levels in a home below the
four picocuries per liter of air standard, there is nothing more
effective than an active system for reducing the radon risk as much
as possible,” said IEMA Acting Director Joe Klinger. “We’re excited
to launch this pilot program in Savoy and look forward to seeing
builders across Illinois incorporate these steps into their new home
construction projects.”
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“The use of radon resistant construction techniques will greatly
reduce the risk of lung cancer among new homeowners,” said Angela
Tin, Vice President of Environmental Health for the American Lung
Association of the Upper Midwest. “We applaud the additional efforts
by partners to further reduce risk by activating the installed radon
mitigation systems. For this reason, the American Lung Association
Health House® program has approved Signature Homes and Ironwood
Homes for Radon Excellence.”
IEMA awarded a $41,000 grant to the ALAIL for the pilot program.
Funding for the grant came from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
While the Radon Excellence program is being piloted in Illinois,
IEMA and the ALAIL hope to see it expand nationwide.
For more information about the Radon Excellence Program, visit the
ALAIL website at http://www.healthhouse.org. Additional information
about radon, including lists of licensed radon measurement and
mitigation contractors, is available on IEMA’s radon webpage at
www.radon.illinois.gov.
[Patti Thompson, Illinois Emergency
Management Agency] |