According to the findings of The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, 42% homes in Illinois were exposed to excess levels of Radon.

Radon is radioactive gas which is colorless odorless and tasteless. It is released by the decay of naturally occurring radioactive in the soil.

Environmental Protection Agency officials found that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. It is responsible for the deaths of 7,000 to
30,000 Americans annually. According to statistical estimate 1 in 15 homes in the United States experiences an elevated radon level. That is why Illinois safety officials feel that it becomes pertinent for the residents to get their homes tested for radon.

The testing is a simple process that takes little time. The testing kits are available for a nominal fee at the health department. It is recommended that the radon tests should be carried out in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy.

This test is the only way of detecting radon. The gas enters naturally through the ground and into the air. It can leak through cracks and gaps in floors and walls, cavities inside walls, gaps around service pipes and through a home's water supply.