National Radon Awareness Month

January is "National Radon Awareness Month(NRAM). The purpose of NRAM is to draw attention to radon as a serious public health issue and more importantly to motivate Americans to take action to protect themselves from radon health effects.

Radon is a naturally occuring invisible, ordorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful at elevated levels. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is present in elevated levels in about 50% of area homes. New homes, as well as older homes, can have elevated radon levels. The only way to know if you have an elevated level in your home is to conduct a test. Act now as winter is the best time to test for radon gas. If your home has unsafe concentrations of radon gas, it can be fixed.

For more information and a free radon test kit, you may contact the Champaign Health District at 937-484-1606.