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Radon |
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Radon Action Month Public Service
Announcement mp3 file |
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Attention
Students & Teachers: Visit our
Radon Contests Page
HERE
to learn how students can participate in
the annual poster & video contests
Press Release: 1-9-13
Student contests promote radon awareness
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 Radon
is the second leading cause of lung
cancer in the United States.
Radon is a colorless, odorless,
radioactive gas that occurs naturally
from the breakdown of uranium. Rocks and
soil can contain uranium. Radon gas can
enter through cracks in
homes/buildings/schools and expose
people to the radiation. The United
States Environmental Protection Agency
(US EPA) estimates that 21,000 yearly
lung cancer U.S. deaths are associated
with radon. |
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Radon Data in Kane
County: |
According to the 2006 Status Report for
Radon in Illinois, 36% of the homes in
Illinois are above
the US EPA Action Level. If a
home/building/school tests at 4 pCi/L or
higher, action needs to be taken to
remove the radon.
The average indoor radon levels of Kane
County, as determined by radon test
results from Air Check, Inc, is 5 pCi/L.
Radon levels for Kane County
Radon in Kane County
- presentation
2/1/12
Number of radon mitigation systems in
Kane County by zip code |
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Radon-Resistant New
Construction Policies (RRNC): |
 RRNC
policies are relatively minor, low-cost,
construction techniques that help reduce
the radon levels in new homes that are
built.
Many Kane County builders have been
educated about radon and have already
adopted these policies. Since 1994 more
than 1/3 of new homes built in Kane
County have been built using
Radon-resistant techniques.
There are 5 Radon-resistant construction
techniques.
Link |
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Effective January 1998 several
municipalities in Kane County including
Batavia, Geneva, Montgomery, North
Aurora, and St. Charles adopted a
building code for Radon-resistant new
construction. |
Details can be found at these links:
Batavia
Geneva
Montgomery (see
section 6-14)
St. Charles:
for remodel
for new homes |
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Radon Testing: |
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All Kane County residents should test
their homes for radon. Testing is the
only way to know your radon level! |
HOME
There are several resources that
can provide you with information about
choosing a radon testing kit that you
can use in your home. (see publications
listed in resources below) |
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 Radon
testing kits are now available from the
Kane County Health Department and Kane
County Development Office.
Low-cost radon
testing kits now available for $15
This cost includes the kit, cost of
mailing to a certified lab for analysis,
and results. Kits
are available at these locations: |
Aurora
Health Department Office
1240 N. Highland Avenue, Suite 5
Aurora, IL 60506
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm |
Kane County Development Office
719 South Batavia Avenue, 4th Floor
Geneva, Illinois 60134
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm |
Elgin Health Department Office
1750 Grandstand Place, Suite 2
Elgin, IL 60123
Hours: Tuesdays 9:00am-12:00pm |
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SCHOOLS
The EPA
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
provides schools with guidance,
strategies, a list of frequently asked
questions, and improvement plans to
improve school air quality at little or
no cost. |
 MEDICAL SCREENING
Secondhand smoke causes approximately
3,000 lung cancer deaths annually; radon
causes 21,000. Doctors are in a position
to educate their patients about testing
procedures and methods for correcting
elevated indoor radon levels. Most
doctors ask their patients if they are a
smoker or are exposed to second hand
smoke but do not ask their patients if
they have tested their homes for radon.
Doctor involvement is crucial in
reducing the incidence of lung cancer.
COMMUNICATING THE HEALTH RISK OF RADON,
A Physician's Guide |
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Resources |
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Radon Page - EPA
Radon Publications - EPA
Radon Page - Illinois Emergency
Management Agency (IEMA)
Radon Publications - IEMA
Radon: A Citizen's Guide to Protecting
Yourself and Your Family - EPA
Radon: A Consumer's Guide to Radon
Reduction - How to fix your home -
EPA
Radon: Guidelines for Measurements in
the Home - IEMA
Radon: Home Buyer's & Sellers Guide
- EPA
Radon Map of Radon Zones in USA, EPA
Radon Map of Illinois
Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate
Transactions - IL
Take Action on Radon for Healthy Homes
U of I Extension
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CanSAR (Cancer Survivors against
Radon)
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Request a radon
presentation for your Kane County
community organization
through our online form
HERE |
