Date Published: 01/02/2020 [Source]
According to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) the winter season is a great time to test your home for cancer-causing radon gas that has been found in nearly 40 percent of Illinois homes tested. IEMA is encouraging people to test for radon during Radon Action Month in January.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is naturally produced from the soil. It can enter homes and buildings through small cracks in the foundation, sump pumps or soil in crawlspaces. Statistics show radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. An estimated 1,200 people in Illinois develop radon-related lung cancer each year.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is announcing several initiatives this January to increase public awareness of radon risks and ways to reduce radon exposure. These initiatives include contests related to radon posters, radon videos and radon twitter hashtags.