Rockford, Illinois
What is radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking, responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths a year. An estimated 2 out of 5 homes in Winnebago County test above the EPA's action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
No email address needed to read this. These are the real facts so you can understand your own risk before deciding whether to test.
Where radon comes from
Radon forms underground as uranium in soil and rock breaks down. As a gas, it moves upward through the ground and can seep into a house through cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes, sump pits, and other openings where the house meets the soil beneath it. Once inside, it can build up, especially in a basement or lowest livable level with limited air exchange.
Why it's a health risk
Breathing air containing radon means tiny radioactive particles get trapped in lung tissue. Those particles release small bursts of energy as they decay, and over years of exposure that damage can lead to lung cancer. Smokers exposed to elevated radon face a substantially higher risk than non-smokers at the same exposure level, because the two risks compound rather than simply add.
How testing and mitigation work
Testing
A test device placed in the lowest livable level of the home measures radon concentration over a period ranging from a few days (short-term) to 90 days or more (long-term). The result is reported in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) and compared against the EPA's action level.
Mitigation
If a result confirms an elevated level, a mitigation system — typically a vent pipe and fan that pulls radon from beneath the foundation and releases it safely above the roofline — can reduce indoor radon levels by up to 99%.
Testing around a home sale
Radon often comes up during a real estate transaction — a buyer requests it, a lender wants it, or a seller wants to know before it becomes a surprise mid-negotiation. See how testing fits around a closing timeline.
Common questions
Radon questions
Is radon dangerous at any level?
There is no known safe level of radon exposure. The EPA sets 4.0 pCi/L as the level at which it recommends taking action, and suggests considering action between 2 and 4.0 pCi/L, but risk exists below that too — it's a matter of degree, not a hard line.
Can I smell or see radon in my house?
No. Radon has no color, smell, or taste. Testing with a device is the only way to know a home's level.
Does a new house mean lower radon risk?
Radon comes from uranium decay in the soil beneath a house, not from the house's age. A brand-new home on high-radon soil carries the same exposure risk as an old one on the same soil.
How is radon actually causing lung cancer?
Breathing air with radon in it traps radioactive particles in the lungs. Those particles release small bursts of energy as they break down, and over time that damages lung tissue.
Why is Winnebago County specifically a concern?
An estimated 2 out of 5 homes in Winnebago County test above the EPA's action level, driven by the geology under the area rather than anything about the houses themselves.
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