(CREDIT: Kane County Health Department)

A large crowd gathered to learn more about the dangers associated with radon exposure in homes. ARMS Radon Mitigation Service presented information on the prevalence of radon, the health risks associated, and how to act in order to stop it. Kane County Healthy Places Speaker’s Bureau formed for the purpose of informing residents on the severity of threat associated with radon.

If you’d like to request a speaker from the bureau to present about the dangers of radon and how to stay safe, click here.

Radon is a more serious threat to Kane County residents’ health than most of us realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States for non-smokers.

According to the 2006 Status Report for Radon in Illinois, 44 percent of homes and buildings tested between 2003-2011 show levels of radon above U.S. EPA recommended Action Level of 4 pCi/L.

January was National Radon Awareness Month, but the campaign to help Kane County residents stay safe isn’t limited to the first 31 days of the year. More-accurate results are gathered when testing occurs during the cold months of the year when windows are shut.

• Click here for a list of professional radon testers and mitigators or pick up your easy, quick, home Test Kit at the Kane County Health Department’s Aurora and Elgin locations, the Kane County Development Department in Geneva, the American Lung Association, or local hardware store. Free test kits are also available for those who are income eligible through Community Contacts Inc. at 847-697-8800 and for Aurora residents, through the Joseph Corporation at 630-906-9400.
• GIRL SCOUTS click here to learn how to earn a patch for spreading awareness on radon.
• BOY SCOUTS click here to learn how to earn a badge for spreading awareness on radon.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department news release