Should I Test My Water?

lf you've tested the air in your home and it isfound to contain harmful levels of radon. theEPA recommends you have your watertested for radon if the water comes from awell. You can do this by contacting a statecertified laboratory in your area that can testfor radon in water. lf your water is from apublic water supplier that utilizes groundwa-ter as the source, you can call the supplier toinquire about radon testing.

Radon in water can become an inhalationand ingestion hazard; however, researchindicates there is a larger risk of developinglung cancer through inhalation of radon inthe air than developing stomach cancer fromdrinking water that is contaminated with ra-don. Radon in water can become an inhala-tion hazard when radon is released into theair from showering and other household ac-tivities. lf your water tests positive for radon,there are treatment methods that can re-move radon from the water. lf surface wateris your drinking water source, radon gener-ally will not be a problem.

How Can I Learn More About Radon?Locally, if you are part of a community school,agency or interest group and would like apresentation on radon, the Logan County De-partment of Public Health (LCDPH) can pro-vide an educational presentation at your re-quest. You can reach the Logan County De-partment of Public Health at217-735-2317.

Radon Resources on the Web/Contactlnformation:

EPA: www.eoa.qov/radon/pubs

I E MA : www.state. il. us/iem a/radon/ava il pu b. asp

LCDPH: www.lcdph.orq or call 217-735-2317

Brochure Information Source:lllinois Emergency Management Agency

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

This brochure is funded through a grantfrom the lllinois Emergency Management

Agency

Logan Gounty Departmentof

Publlc Health

109 Third StreetP.O. Box 508

Lincoln, lllinois 62656www.lcdph.org

Phone: (217)735-2317Fax: (217) 735-1872

Email: info@lcdph.org

Logan Gounty Department

of Publlc Health

RúlicHealthPrevent. Promote. Protect

LOGAN COUNTY

Radon is a radioactive gas which is pro-duced from the breakdown of uranium insoil and rock.

Why is Radon so Dangerous?Radon is a cancer-causing substance andis the second leading cause of lung cancerin the United States (leading cause amongnon-smokers). ln fact, it is estimated that21,000 people die each year from lung can-cer due to radon exposure. Radon usuallygoes undetected since it is odorless, taste-less and invisible.

Radon Health Risk

oilltrf tr

Source: U.S.EPA

Once in the home, radon gas decays intoradioactive particles that, when you inhale,can get trapped in your lungs. These parti-cles, when trapped in the lungs, give off en-ergy that can cause lung tissue damagewhich may lead to lung cancer.

Not everyone exposed to elevated levels ofradon will develop cancer and the onset ofexposure and the occurrence of the diseasemay span many years. However, a homewith a high level of radon does pose a

Continued...

greater health risk for developing lung can-cer. People who smoke and live in a homewith elevated radon are even more at risk.

Overall, the chance of getting lung cancerdepends on the level of radon that is inyour home, the amount of time you spendin your home and whether you are asmoker or have ever smoked.

How Does Radon Enter Your Home?

After breaking down from uranium in thesoil, radon gas can enter your homethrough cracks or other openings in thefoundation. More specifically, radon gascan enter through cracks in floors andwalls, construction joints, gaps in oraround service pipes or suspended floorsand cavities within walls. Radon can evenenter through your water supply.

Are Certain Homes at Risk forHaving Radon?

Logan County (and much of lllinois) israted as zone 1 meaning that LoganGounty is in a zone of highest potentialfor radon to be found at unsafe levels.Regardless of which zone a home is lo-cated, any home has the potentialto con-tain unsafe levels of radon. Because yourneighbor's home was tested and is consid-ered to have safe levels of radon doesn'tmean your home will be safe.

How Can You Determine Your Homeis Safe?

There is only one way to determine ifyour home is safe from radon and that isto have it tested. Fortunately testing iseasy and can be done at a low cost. A vari-ety of do-it-yourself test kits (short-term andlong-term) are available through the mail,hardware stores, and other local outlets.

When testing your home for radon, it's im-portant to follow the label instructions on thekit to ensure testing is done properly. lf bypreference, or if you are buying/selling ahome, you can hire a qualified tester to dothe job for you.

What if Radon Levels in Your Homeare Unsafe?

Radon in the air is measured in 'picocuriesper liter of ai/' or "pCi/L'. Although any de-tectible level of radon is truly not consideredsafe, radon levels of 4 pCi/L or greater meetthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)action level (recommended level to takeaction).

There are several methods used to removeradon but the most common is a vent pipesystem and fan which is designed to pullthe radon up from below the house andvent it to the outside.

Because lowering the radon levels in thehome requires technical knowledge, skillsand specialequipments, the person youhire must be a state licensed mitigation con-tractor. For a listing of lllinois licensed miti-gation professionals, you can go to the lLEmergency Management Agency (IEMA)website at www. state. il. us/l EMA/radon/radon.htm.