Radon Awareness Program
Cook County and the State of Illinois will continue to a conduct radon awareness program by distributing radon detector kits. The kit can be ordered for the low cost of $7. Radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible gas that is found naturally in soil. It can come into homes through cracks and openings in the foundation. Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radio-active particles that when inhaled can damage the cells in the lungs. This lung damage can lead to lung cancer.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. The United Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) states that radon is associated with 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths inthe United States each year. Almost 50% of the homes in Illinois and nearly 30% of the homes in Cook County that were tested by professionals had radon levels higher than what is recommended by the US EPA, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
The only way to know if you have radon in your home is by testing. The kit can be obtained from the Cook County Environmental Control by mailing a check or mail order: To the Dept. of Environmental Control, 69 West Washington, Chicago, IL 60602. Be sure to include a name, address and phone number. Should a house have high radon we can provide the names of licensed mitigators who specialize in radon reduction.