Some properties in Tazewell County qualify for free help with managing the impact of radon.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that naturally forms from rocks and soil. The gas is particularly present in older homes.
“They’ve had that time to allow the radon to seep in, through maybe cracks in the foundation or through soil,” said J.D. Raucci, Communications and Health Education Specialist for the Tazewell County Health Department.
As radon breaks down, it releases radioactive particles. Those particles can permeate air, soil and drinking water. Raucci says people exposed to those particles long-term have an increased risk of cancer and other health impacts.
“Also around power plants, former power plants that have been used for a different kind of breakdown – Radon is also common around those areas, and we have a few of those in Tazewell County,” said Raucci.
One example is Pekin’s Powerton plant on Manito Road. Raucci says properties in the area surrounding the plant, which is slated to close by 2028, may qualify for free radon mitigation systems. Those systems regulate the level of particles in the air and water of a home.
The Radon Mitigation Program is administered through the Tazewell County Health Department and is funded by state grants. Raucci says the qualifying area covers parts of Pekin, Green Valley and the southern tip of Tazewell County.
First though, Raucci says the most important thing is to get your home tested for radon. During January, which is National Radon Month, you can get a testing kit from Tazewell, Peoria and Woodford County Health Departments for free.
After January, the kits cost $8.
The testing kit is a sheet of charcoal that hangs in your home for 3-6 days. Raucci says to hang it in the lowest level of the house you use regularly, between 2-5 feet off the ground.
After the six days, you take the charcoal down, seal it in the envelope the kit came in, and send it off for testing. Raucci says you can use the postal service, but FedEx or UPS is recommended to avoid radon decaying en route.
“Then if you’re over the threshold for radon, in terms of it being high within your house … then your next step would be to get set up with a licensed radon mitigation professional and they can kind of help you figure out what your options are,” said Raucci.
Raucci says area health departments keep a directory of radon mitigation professionals.
More information on radon testing and resources in Tazewell County is available here.
