August 1 marks World Lung Cancer Day, and the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are urging residents to test their homes for radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible radioactive gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer and the top cause among non-smokers. Shockingly, radon has been detected in 65% of Henry County homes and 82% of Stark County homes. The only way to know if radon levels are elevated is through testing. If your home’s results exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4 picocuries per liter, steps should be taken to lower these levels. The departments offer radon home test kits for $15 at their Kewanee, Colona, and Toulon offices while supplies last. For details on testing or mitigation, visit henrystarkhealth.com or call your nearest health office.
The Health Department staff notes, “Many people don’t even know that radon gas is such a health threat. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in the soil and water that can build up to dangerous levels in the home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible and the only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test for it. Breathing radon can increase one’s risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, your risk is even more heightened.”
They add, “Radon gas found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% of homes in Stark County. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, meaning there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer. It is the cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States annually.”
Residents seeking a kit can contact the Kewanee office at 309-852-0197, Colona at 309-792-4011, or Toulon at 309-852-3115. For more updates and resources, find us on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter and Instagram. Take this step to protect your family and stay informed about community health initiatives.
