January is National Radon Action Month
Blame the geology in the Midwestern United States, and northeast Illinois in particular: Homes in Kane County have the potential for higher levels of radon. This is because the rocks and soil beneath our feet can contain uranium, which can produce radon.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the breakdown of uranium.
You can't see or smell it; testing is the only way to know your level of exposure. Radon has been found to be the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.
The gas enters through cracks in homes, buildings and schools and exposes people to the radiation. And because our homes are typically shut up tight during cold winter days, any radon that enters your home will tend to linger much longer.
That is why January has been named National Radon Action Month, and the Kane County Healthy Places Coalition, in conjunction with the Kane County Health Department, recommend that now is a good time to test your home for the presence of radon.
Regardless of the year your home was built, you may have high levels of radon gas.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that if a home or building tests at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, action should be taken to reduce the level of radon.
The average indoor radon level in Kane County is 5.07 pCi/L, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Residents can find the average radon level for homes in their ZIP code by visiting www.kanehealth.com/PDFs/Radon/KaneRadonLevelsbyZip.pdf
More information about radon is available at http://kanehealth.com/radon.htm.
Testing is easy and inexpensive. It's the only way to know that radon is in your home.
Radon testing kits are available from the Kane County Health Department and the Kane County Development Office.
Testing kits are also available at many local hardware stores.
Test kits for $15, which include certified lab analysis and postage, are available at:
• Aurora Health Department Office, 1240 N. Highland Ave., Suite 5, Aurora, from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays;
• Kane County Development Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., 4th Floor, Geneva, from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays;
• Elgin Health Department Office, 1750 Grandstand Place, Suite 2, Elgin, from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
Free test kits are available to those who are income eligible through Community Contacts Inc. at (847) 697-8800.
Free test kits for Aurora residents are also available through Joseph Corporation (630) 906-9400.