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 radiation.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimates that 21,000 yearly lung cancer U.S. deaths are associated with radon.
The only way to know that radon is in your home is to test for it.
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.
IEMA Radon Dashboard for Illinois Counties
RRNC policies are relatively minor, low-cost, construction techniques that help reduce the radon levels in new homes that are built.
Effective June 1, 2013 all new residential construction in this State shall include passive radon resistant construction. Read the law.
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.
Radon-resistant construction techniques
All Kane County residents should test their homes for radon. Testing is the only way to know your radon level!
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)
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 Avenue, Suite 5 Aurora, IL 60506 Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, closed from 12:30 to 1:30
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 8:30am-4:30pm, closed from 12:30 to 1:30
Free test kits for AURORA residents are also available through Neighbor Project (630) 906-9400 (located in downtown Aurora at: 32 S. Broadway).
Steps on the Best Practices for Child Care Centers & Parents The state legislature enacted a law requiring all licensed day care centers and homes to be tested for radon during license renewal: Public Act 097-0981 Radon Testing.
The Kane County Healthy Places Coalition has created a tool kit to make it easy for child care centers and homes to encourage parents to test their homes. The Child Care Radon Testing Photo Journal Tool Kit provides a quick guide to the various action items that child care centers and homes can choose from the tool kit to promote radon awareness among parents. We hope this tool kit helps many families with children in child care settings in Kane County.
Radon Testing Photo Journal Tool Kit for Child Care providers: Radon Testing Photo Journal Tool Kit - pdf Coloring Sheet on Radon Follow-up Survey for Child Care Providers English & Spanish
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.
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
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 CanSAR (Cancer Survivors against Radon) Radon Testing Bookmark Radon Info Flyer English-Spanish Radon Testing Flyer English-Spanish Letter to Parents About Radon English-Spanish Radon Coloring Sheet English-Spanish Radon Follow-up Survey English-Spanish
Request a radon presentation for your Kane County community organization through our online form.
