Where to get radon testing for Schools in Illinois?  

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas, and exposure to it can cause lung cancer (radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States). It comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all rock and soils; it typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into an occupancy through cracks and other holes in the foundation. ANSI/AARST MA-MFLB-2023: Protocol For Conducting Measurements Of Radon And Radon Decay Products In Multifamily, School, Commercial And Multi-Use Buildings details protocols when measuring radon concentrations in residential and non-residential occupancies.

US ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING has over ten years' experience and hundreds of measurement projects that have included commercial, mixed use, large buildings and campuses, multi-family, and school buildings. If your organization is preparing an air quality study that may include asbestos, lead-based-paint, mold, radon detection, organic compound detection or water system analysis. Contact US Environmental Testing to request a free quote for services.  

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How does radon detection work?

Radon testing measures the concentration of radon gas in your home using short-term or long-term detectors that capture the gas or its radioactive decay products. 

A radon detector is a device that measures the concentration of radon gas in indoor air, typically reporting results in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into buildings from the ground, and because it’s colorless and odorless, a detector is the only way to know if it’s present. The EPA recommends taking action if your home’s radon level reaches 4 pCi/L or higher.

All radon detectors rely on the same basic physics: radon is radioactive, and as it decays, it releases alpha particles. Detectors capture or count these particles to calculate how much radon is in the air. The differences between detector types come down to how they detect those particles and whether they give you a single reading after days or weeks, or continuous updates in real time.

Detectors fall into two broad categories: passive and active. Passive detectors have no electronics or power source. They collect a sample over a set period and then get sent to a lab for analysis. Active detectors are electronic monitors that measure radon continuously and display results on a screen or send them to a phone app.

Overview of Radon Testing  

Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally seeps into homes from soil, rock, and water. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, making testing the only way to detect its presence and assess potential health risks, such as lung cancer from long-term exposure.

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​​​​​​​​US Environmental Testing Services LLC radon detection services in Illinois

• Initial radon detection

• Follow-up radon detection

• Post-mitigation radon detection

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How to find radon mitigation services in Illinois?​

Radon mitigation professionals may be found on the Illinois Emergency Management Website (https://public.iema.state.il.us/Radon/Home/LicenseIndex?Employer=0&LicenseTypeID=4&CountyID=0&SearchString=&PageSize=20) Northern Illinois Radon LLC and US Environmental Testing provides mitigation planning services for our clients and recommendations to trusted mitigation contractors.​

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Who can do a basic radon home test in Illinois?​

Northern Illinois Radon, a division of US Environmental Testing (usenvi.com), provides professional radon home testing across Illinois. We place certified short-term or long-term radon detectors in your home, analyze the results in an accredited lab, and give you a clear report so you know whether your family is safe — or whether you need radon mitigation.

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Who can do a basic radon home test in Illinois?​

Northern Illinois Radon, a division of US Environmental Testing (usenvi.com), provides professional radon home testing across Illinois. We place certified short-term or long-term radon detectors in your home, analyze the results in an accredited lab, and give you a clear report so you know whether your family is safe — or whether you need radon mitigation.​

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What is the EPA's Action Level for Radon and What Does it Mean?

Radon in air is ubiquitous (existing or being everywhere at the same time). Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. The EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) (150 becquerels per meter cubed (Bq/m3)) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, the EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L (75 - 150 Bq/m3) .

The average indoor radon concentration for America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L (50 Bq/m3). It is upon this national average indoor level that the EPA based its estimate of 21,000 radon-related lung cancers a year. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L (15 Bq/m3)or 1/10th of EPA's 4 pCi/L (150 Bq/m3)action level.

Note: Countries worldwide have adopted action levels for radon exposures. Most are similar to the 4 pCi/L (150 Bq/m3) action level recommended in the United States. The action level observed should comply with the guidance of the country, state, or other local jurisdiction of authority where the test is being conducted. For more information, review Protocol for Conducting Measurements of Radon and Radon Decay Products in Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings Section 7.1 Action Level Guidance. (ANSI/AARST MA-MFLB-2023)

(source: What is EPA's Action Level for Radon and What Does it Mean? | US EPA)​​​​​​​