The Macoupin County Public Health Department is aligned with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) in a major campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to identify and fix radon problems in their homes.
Radon is a health hazard that is present in elevated levels in about 33% of Macoupin County homes, which compares with over 6% of homes across all of America. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful at elevated levels. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reports that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making radon the second highest cause of lung cancer in the United States.
The Macoupin County Public Health Department is now offering radon test kits for a nominal fee of $20. Radon test kits that meet EPA guidelines are also available at local hardware stores, home improvement stores, some supermarkets, other retail outlets, or directly from a laboratory.
Radon problems can often be fixed by qualified contractors. Macoupin County Public Health Department urges area residents to test their homes for elevated levels of radon. It is a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution.
For more information on radon, radon testing, and radon mitigation, call Macoupin County Public Health Department at 217-839-4111 or 217-710-9113.
Click the link below to view an instructional video on how to set up MCPHD’s radon test kit.