Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2008
Contact
Michael Flanagan, Environmental Health Specialist I
(217) 531-2908
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Test Their Homes with Free Radon Test Kit
Champaign, IL – January is National Radon Action Month, and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages citizens to learn more about the radon threat and test their homes for the presence of radon. CUPHD has FREE radon test kits available for residents of Champaign County. Test kits may be picked up at the Environmental Health Division of CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign from 8:00am – 4:00pm; Monday through Friday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released into the air from decaying matter in rocks, soil, and water. While levels in outdoor air are relatively harmless, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings. Radon is an invisible threat, it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted; the only way to detect radon is to perform a radon test.
The free test kits provided by CUPHD are safe and easy to use. Simply open the test kit, and place the radon detector in a designated area in the home for a minimum of 48 hours, with windows and doors closed. After 48 hours, place detector in the enclosed postagepaid envelope and send it to a lab for a free analysis. The lab will then inform you of your radon test results.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The EPA recommends that homes with radon levels of 4 pCi/L or higher should be mitigated. The average home reading is about 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor reading is about 0.4 pCi/L.
Radon presents a serious health risk, but it can be controlled easily and cost effectively. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family. Test your home and protect your health today.
For more information on radon or free radon test kits for Champaign County residents, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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