As part of Radon Action Month in January, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) urged people throughout Illinois to test their homes for radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas that has been found in nearly 40 percent of Illinois homes tested.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that comes from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. It can enter homes and buildings through small cracks in the foundation, sump pumps, or soil in crawlspaces. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall in the U.S. It is estimates nearly 1,200 Illinois citizens die from radon-related lung cancer each year, according to IEMA.
The agency also is joining with the American Lung Association in Illinois (ALA-IL), Respiratory Health Association, Southern Illinois Radon Awareness Task Force, and the Ecology Action Center to host the annual statewide Illinois Radon Poster Contest and the Illinois High School Radon Video Contest.
"Every year, students from across the state find imaginative ways to promote the radon message through posters and videos," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "This contest helps students learn more about the health risks associated with radon and the importance of testing one's home. Hopefully, they will encourage their friends and families to test their own homes."
Read more about the contest and submission deadlines online: http://www.lincolntrailpublishing.com/articles/18768/test-homes-for-radon
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