Radon seminar aims to heighten awareness

SPRINGFIELD -- Nearly 70 public health officials, contractors and educators participated in a daylong seminar to learn how to raise awareness about potentially deadly radon gas.

The seminar in Springfield Monday was sponsored by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas which has been found in 40 percent of Illinois homes.

It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. As many as 1,200 lung cancer deaths each year in Illinois are related to radon.

Calvin Murphy of Mt. Vernon was scheduled to receive an award for radon education.