Surgeon General's Warning – Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer!

"Knowing What I Now Know About Radon, I Would Never Move My Family into an Illinois Home Without First Having it Tested..."

What is Radon? – Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless natural gas that is produced in the soil beneath your property and is released into the air we breathe.  It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

How Does Radon Get Into My Home? – Radon is a natural decay of uranium that is found in most soils.  It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  It can also move through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, cracks in walls, gaps in floors, gaps around service pipes, gaps inside walls and through your water supply.

Is Radon Present in My Neighborhood? - Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your area.  To check out your area, visit the US EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap/illinois.htm.

What Effects Can Radon Have on Me? – Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America.  Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime.  Radon has also been associated with other lung problems such as, asthma and brochitis.

How is a Radon Test Done in My Home? – A continuous Radon monitor is placed in the lowest living levels of the home and an air level reading is done every hour for 48 hours and then the results are averaged to get the radon level results.  A test is recommended every two years or when major construction is done to the home. 

If Radon is Found in My Home, Can it Be Fixed? – YES!!  If test results show your home has elevated levels of Radon, a soil suction Radon reduction system can be installed.  A soil suction Radon reduction system is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE RADON REPORT

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US EPA Radon Risk Chart

Radon Risk If You Smoke

Radon Level	If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*...	The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**...	WHAT TO DO: Stop smoking and...
20 pCi/L	About 260 people could get lung cancer	250 times the risk of drowning	Fix your home
10 pCi/L	About 150 people could get lung cancer	200 times the risk of dying in a home fire	Fix your home
8 pCi/L	About 120 people could get lung cancer	30 times the risk of dying in a fall	Fix your home
4 pCi/L	About 62 people could get lung cancer	5 times the risk of dying in a car crash	Fix your home
2 pCi/L	About 32 people could get lung cancer	6 times the risk of dying from poison	Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L
1.3 pCi/L	About 20 people could get lung cancer	(Average indoor radon level)	(Reducing radon  levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.)
0.4 pCi/L	About 3 people could get lung cancer	(Average outdoor radon level)
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower. * Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). ** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports.

Radon Risk If You've Never Smoked

Radon Level	If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*...	The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**...	WHAT TO DO:
20 pCi/L	About 36 people could get lung cancer	35 times the risk of drowning	Fix your home
10 pCi/L	About 18 people could get lung cancer	20 times the risk of dying in a home fire	Fix your home
8 pCi/L	About 15 people could get lung cancer	4 times the risk of dying in a fall	Fix your home
4 pCi/L	About 7 people could get lung cancer	The risk of dying in a car crash	Fix your home
2 pCi/L	About 4 person could get lung cancer	The risk of dying from poison	Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L
1.3 pCi/L	About 2 people could get lung cancer	(Average indoor radon level)	(Reducing radon levels below  2 pCi/L is difficult.)
0.4 pCi/L		(Average outdoor radon level)
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher. * Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). ** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports.

* Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).  The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety Council Reports.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE RADON REPORT