La Salle County Health Department to supply free radon test kits to residents

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 move through small spaces in a foundation easily 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 a home. The best time to test for radon is during cold temperatures 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 (4 pCi/L). At or above this level, it is recommended that corrective measures be taken to reduce indoor radon levels, according to the health department. Radon mitigation is the only effective way to reduce levels and decrease the risk of lung cancer, the health department said. 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 Illinois Emergency Management Agency, 45% of homes tested for radon in Illinois had levels at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Per the IEMA Public Radon Dashboard, the average radon measurement in La Salle County is 7 pCi/L.

“Testing for radon is 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. “I encourage all homeowners in La Salle County to pick up a free radon test kit so they know their home’s level.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends home tests for radon every two years.

In 2024, the La Salle County Health Department gave out 202 test kits. Overall, 140 of those test kits have been submitted for analysis, for a 70% usage rate. A total of 110 have produced valid results, with 53 having a result above 4 pCi/L. The average result of the kits analyzed in 2024 is 6.56 pCi/L.

The La Salle County Health Department, through a grant from the IEMA, 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 in Ottawa. A staff member will assist with 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 the 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 more information on radon test kits.