Effective January 1, 2013, Illinois law requires licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes to have the facility tested for radon at least once every 3 years. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, day care centers will need to show proof the facility has been tested for radon within the last three years as part of the initial application or license renewal process.
Radon is a known human carcinogen. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon. This may be due to their higher respiration rate and their rapidly dividing cells, which may be more vulnerable to radiation damage.
Day care facilities are required to post the most current radon measurement results next to the licenses issued by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and provide copies of the report to parents or guardians upon request. The law does not require, but recommends, day care facilities to reduce radon levels if they exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
Under the law, non-residential day care centers are required to hire an IEMA-licensed radon measurement professional to test the facility. Home day care centers may purchase a home test kit and conduct the test themselves or hire a licensed contractor to perform the test. Precision Radon is licensed to perform these tests and can help you comply with the state laws to protect your business, and most importantly, our children, from the dangers of radon.
Our technicians are personable, knowledgeable and here to explain all you need to know about radon and how it can affect your childcare center. We also understand that timely receipt of your test results is critical to keeping your daycare business in compliance with state and local agencies. Precision Radon will provide you with your comprehensive, easy to read radon report, and radon test certificate where required by DCFS, quickly and efficiently.