RADON  FACTS  AND  INFORMATION

  • What is "radon"
    Radon (chemical symbol Rn and atomic number 86) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found
    in soils, rock, and water throughout the World. It has numerous different isotopes, but radon-220,
    and -222 are the most common. Radon is on of the heaviest gases, has a half-life of 3.823 days
    and emits alpha particles. Radon causes lung cancer, and is a threat to health because it tends
    to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations. As a result, radon is the largest source
    of exposure to naturally occurring radiation.

  • Where does radon come from?
    Radon-222 is the decay product of radium-226. Radon-222 and its parent, radium-226, are part
    of the long decay chain for uranium-238. Since uranium is essentially ubiquitous in the earth's
    crust, radium-226 and radon-222 are present in almost all rock, soil, and water.

  • Those the age of the home matter?
    Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty
    homes, and homes with or without basements. Nearly 1 out of 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated
    to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes across
    all states and areas.















  • Does the weather affect the radon level?
    Radon levels will fluctuate daily and seasonally within a reasonable range. A short-term test is a
    snapshot and a good indicator of whether or not the home has a radon problem.

  • Can radon levels vary from house to house?
    You cannot rely on test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level
    in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different indoor radon levels. While
    radon problems may be more common in some areas in the local community or state, any home may
    have a problem. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from
    radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.

  • What, if the test results are high?
    High radon levels can be reduced. US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) recommends that
    action to reduce indoor radon levels should be taken if the radon test result is 4pCi/L or higher.
    A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes. Sealing cracks and other openings
    in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction. EPA does not recommend
    the use of sealing alone to reduce radon because by itself, sealing has not been shown to lower
    radon levels significantly or consistently. In most cases systems called "sub-slab Pressurisation
    systems" are recommended. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the home from below
    the concrete floor and the foundation.  Depending on the design of your home and some other
    factors  a radon reduction contractor may  recommend and use other methods to reduce indoor
    radon levels. A radon mitigation system costs $800 to $1500 on the average, although this can be
    as high as $2500 in some cases.

  • Do I need to disclose high radon levels?
    Illinois law requires disclosure of high radon levels.
    The Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act, effective October 1994, requires that a home seller
    disclose any knowledge about radon levels in the home.

  • All Radon Professionals in Illinois have to be State Licensed.

  • Please visit these websites if you would like additional information about Radon:
About Radon

American Lung
Association

EPA  Environmental
Protection Agency)

"AARST"
Radon Risk &
Health Effects

IEMA / IL Emergency
Management Agency

TEL:
630-639-0301
NEHA
NRPP
VIEW
Informative Video from EPA about Radon
for  Real Estate Agents & Brokers
(click)
This map is not intended to
determine if a home in a given
zone should be tested for radon.
Homes with elevated levels of
radon have been found in all three
zones.
All homes should be tested,
regardless of geographic location.
For additional information contact
the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency, Radon
Division
Map recreated for web use
.Original source being USEPA

CONTACT US by
E-MAIL
Radon Testing
by Illinois Licensed Radon Professionals
Video
CHICAGO      ILLINOIS      NAPERVILLE
(click)
IEMA
Illinois
Status Report
for Radon in Illinois
(2006)

<click>
Radon %
in your
County ?