Public Health Risk Prevention Presented to Kane County Public Health Committee January 21, 2014 Theresa Heaton Health Promotion Division Kane County Health Department
Radon is an indoor air pollutant. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from naturally occurring uranium in the soil. Radon gas seeps into homes where it can be inhaled.
Radon enters through any opening between the building and the soil. radon radium uranium
Foundation Wall Joint Crawlspace Sump Pits Cracks in Floors Utility Penetrations
Every county in Illinois has had a high radon test 36% of the homes according to the Status Report for Radon in Illinois are above the United States US EPA Radon Map Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Action Level .
US EPA’s 2003 “ Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes ” estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the US EPA estimate that as many as 1,160 Illinois citizens are at risk of developing radon related lung cancer each year.
Average Indoor Radon Concentration by County
Nearly half of the 10,495 Kane County homes & buildings tested between 2003-2011 show high levels of radon (4pCi/L or higher) At or below 3.9 pCi/L 44% 56% At or above 4 pCi/L
Total number of buildings tested, found to have high level and mitigated for radon between 2003 and 2011 in Kane County 2200 1953 2000 1800 1600 Number of 1379 1421 buildings 1400 1257 tested 1200 1000 Number of buildings had 800 690 high level 524 507 600 408 399 Number of 400 294 260 buildings 136 157 209 160 103 139 61 116 mitigated 200 91 83 56 39 29 21 0 Year measured or mitigated Source: Illinois Emergency Management Agency,
Comparative Risk Assessments by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked Radon among the top four Environmental risks to the Public
Average annual deaths in U.S. 25,000 by household hazard 21,000 20,000 15,800 15,000 10,000 4,800 5,000 3,300 1,000 800 0 Radon Falls Poisoning Fires Choking Drowning
The only way to know the radon level in a building is to test: The occupant can do this or can hire a professional licensed by the IEMA Radon Program Basement, crawl space, slab on grade or foundation combinations can have a radon problem.
TESTING IS EASY AND INEXPENSIVE TEST KITS FOR FREE TEST KITS PURCHASE for Numerous retail Income-eligible locations: residents or through Kane County Health Community Contacts Departmen t Inc. Aurora, and Elgin Illinois in multiple locations or Kane County throughout Development Department Kane County Geneva, Illinois 60134
IEMA recommends first testing with a short term test. Less than 90 days, but usually between 2-7 days.
The US EPA set an action level for indoor radon concentration of 4.0 picocuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/L). IEMA provides a list of Professional Radon Mitigators trained to reduce radon levels. Professional Radon Mitigators and Technicians must meet specific requirements to obtain a license with IEMA. * A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (2005).
Collecting radon prior to its entry into the building and discharging it above the highest eave.
New! Licensed Child Care Centers and Child Care Homes must test for radon and notify parents of results each time they seek licensure renewal. The Kane County Healthy Places Coalition is launching a new tool kit for child care centers to use when they announce their radon testing that encourages parents to test their homes too! The Kane County Healthy Places Coalition has offered free test kits to income eligible residents for nearly two years.
New! Radon-resistant new construction (RRNC). New home construction must have passive radon “pipes” installed. However….Many Kane County builders have been educated about radon and have already adopted these policies. Since 1994 more than 1/3 of new homes built in Kane County have been built using Radon- resistant techniques.
The Illinois Radon Awareness Act and the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act require that a seller of a home disclose information if aware of unsafe concentrations of radon in the home. Many relocation companies and lending institutions, as well as home buyers, request a radon test when purchasing a home. Home buyers are strongly encouraged to request a radon test prior to purchase.
Promote radon testing among all Kane County residents, including free testing! Educate the public through our volunteer speakers bureau –with on online system to request a speaker! Launch our new physician tool kit to engage doctors in promoting radon testing! Begin to partner with car seat technicians to promote radon testing! Engage youth in annual Illinois radon video and poster contests! Support child care centers in promoting testing!
www.radon.illinois.gov http.takeactiononradon.illinois.edu. www.kanehealth.com Questions??? • Presentation adapted from IEMA documents publically available at: http://www.state.il.us/iema/radon/availpub.asp
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