Date Published: 01/05/2020 [Source]
HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital has partnered with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the American Lung Association to distribute free radon detection kits to members of the community and provide free educational presentations about the impact of radon on the public's health. Participants will receive a free take-home test kit while supplies last. Preregistration is not required.
Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless naturally occurring gas that causes lung cancer. Radon can reside at dangerous levels inside homes, schools and other buildings. If your home test shows elevated levels of radon, you can fix the problem by having a radon mitigation system installed. A radon mitigation system consists of a vent pipe, fan and the proper sealing of cracks.
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking. Radon-related lung cancers are responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths annually in the United States. As many as 1,160 Illinois citizens are at risk of developing radon-related lung cancer each year according to IEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"Radon related health risks are preventable," said the IEMA acting director, Alicia Tate-Nadeau."Radon can be detected with a simple test and mitigated through well-established techniques.
"I greatly appreciate and value this partnership with the American Lung Association and Hospital Sisters Health System because, with greater awareness, we can save lives."