(The Center Square) – Illinois officials are raising awareness of what they call a silent killer.
January is National Radon Action Month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security said it is a good time to learn about the odorless gas.
Radon occurs naturally when uranium in soil or rock breaks down to form radium, which then turns into radon gas. The gas can enter a building or home through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings.
“It is estimated that more than 1,100 people in Illinois develop radon-related lung cancer each year,” said IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau.
Dr. Juanita Mora, a Chicago-based physician and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, said with no scent, color or taste, radon is a slow killer.
“It is the number one cause of lung cancer among people who do not smoke and causes 21,000 deaths a year in the United States,” said Mora.
Mora said some areas in the country have naturally higher average radon rates than others, but since any home can be at risk, the only way to know is to do a test. Radon test kits can be purchased by calling the Illinois Radon Hotline at 800-325-1245 or at most hardware and department stores.
It is recommended to conduct one short-term test and one long-term test to ensure consistent readings.
Should you find higher readings, you should contact IEMA-OHS for information about a licensed mitigation professional who are trained to reduce radon levels.
A new Illinois law, which took effect Jan. 1, requires landlords to tell prospective tenants whether radon is present and let them know their rights. Tenants have 90 days to test for radon. If it comes back positive, the landlord must cover at least half the mitigation costs.
