Health department offers Radon Gas Testing Kits

You can't see, smell or taste it, but radon gas could be present at a dangerous level in any home.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is urging residents to test the radon levels in their homes and apartments during the winter months, when indoor radon levels are at their highest.

"Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, claiming the lives of an estimated 21,000 Americans each year," said Mark Pfister, the health department's executive director.

"Testing for radon is easy, inexpensive, and the only way to know if your family is at risk of radon exposure."

The health department offers short-term testing kits for $10. The cost includes return postage, laboratory analysis and interpretation by health department staff. Test kits are also available from area hardware and building supply stores.

Radon is a radioactive gas naturally found in rock and soil. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into a home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

Houses trap radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

If test results reveal elevated levels of radon in your home, contact a radon professional to evaluate and fix the problem.

For more information and to request a short-term testing kit, contact the health department at (847) 377-8020 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/2450/Radon.