January is Radon Action Month

Galesburg – The Knox County Health Department is reminding Knox County residents that January is Radon Action Month, and urged individuals throughout the county to test their homes to see if they have elevated levels of the radioactive gas known to cause lung cancer.

“Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, but it’s a health risk that can be eliminated if people test their homes and take action to reduce excessive levels,” said Wil Hayes, Director of Environmental Health for the Knox County Health Department.  “During January, the Health Department is encouraging everyone to take a few moments to test their homes for radon, and to take steps to reduce those levels to keep their families safe.”

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that comes from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. It can enter homes and buildings through small cracks in the foundation, sump pumps or soil in crawlspaces. The National Academy of Sciences and the Surgeon General estimate that 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths occur annually in the United States, as many as 1,160 of those in Illinois.
  
Testing a home for radon can be conducted by the home’s residents or by a professional licensed by Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “Winter is a great time to test your home for radon because you need ‘closed house’ conditions for an accurate test, and here in Illinois our windows and doors are usually kept shut this time of year to keep the cold out,” stated Hayes.  “It’s very easy to test your own home. The important thing is to get your home tested to find out if your home has a radon hazard, and take steps to reduce radon levels if you find out they’re too high.”

The Knox County Health Department offers radon test kits for $5.00 to help people test their homes. Tests kits can also be purchased at most home improvement and department stores.

For more information Radon, contact the Knox County Health Department at (309) 344-2224 or visit our website at www.knoxcountyhealth.org.