Free radon kits available at La Salle County Health Department

The La Salle County Health Department is encouraging residents to test the radon level in their homes.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in most soil. As radon travels through the soil, it can easily move through small spaces in a foundation and enter a building, where it becomes trapped and accumulates in the air.

Radon has no taste, smell or color. Testing is the only way to find out if there is a dangerous level of radon in your home. The best time to test for radon is during cold weather when windows and doors are closed.

Most radon exposures occur in the home. When people breathe in radon, it damages the lungs, which can cause lung cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Radon can be found throughout Illinois, and levels can vary from one home to another, even in the same neighborhood.

It’s estimated that more than 1,160 people in Illinois develop radon-related lung cancer each year, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The Environmental Protection Agency has established the radon action level at 4 picocuries per liter of air. At or above this level, it is recommended that corrective measures be taken to reduce indoor radon levels.

Radon mitigation is the only effective way to reduce levels and decrease the risk of lung cancer. The most common radon reduction system involves the installation of a vent pipe and fan, which draws air from underneath a building and displaces it outside.

The cost of a system varies depending on the reduction method chosen and building size. Radon is a preventable health threat through testing and mitigation.

According to a study conducted by the IEMA, 41% of homes tested for radon in Illinois had levels higher than the action level of 4 picocuries per liter. In addition, per the IEMA Public Radon Dashboard, the average radon measurement in La Salle County is 7 pCi/L.

“Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive, and it’s the only way to know if your family is at risk,” said Jennie Osborn, director of environmental health at the La Salle County Health Department. “Testing takes three to seven days.

“Tests should be done on the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. Tests should not be done in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms or utility rooms. A short-term test is very easy to use and is best completed during the winter months, when windows and doors are generally closed.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that residents test their home for radon every two years.

In 2023, the La Salle County Health Department gave out 249 test kits. A total of 153 of those test kits have been submitted for analysis, for a 61.4% usage rate. Overall, 133 have produced valid results, with 81 having a result above 4 pCi/L.

The average result of the kits analyzed in 2023 is 7.57 pCi/L.

Through a grant from the IEMA, the La Salle County Health Department has free radon test kits available to residents of La Salle County.

Test kits can be picked up at the health department during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 717 E. Etna Road, Ottawa.

A staff member will assist with the instructions on using the test kit, as well as provide information regarding radon, radon measurement and radon mitigation. Additionally, should radon test results show a high level of radon in a home, the health department can provide a list of licensed radon measurement professionals and licensed radon mitigation professionals for follow-up.

Call the La Salle County Health Department at 815-433-3366 for information about radon test kits.