By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

January is Radon Action Month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will help school districts test for radon through a joint effort with the American Lung Association in Illinois.

ALA IL’s John De Rose says it provides a low cost opportunity for districts to test their schools. Employees will also go through an online course, instructing them on how to conduct testing and where radon detectors should be placed.

“Once the course has been completed, the American Lung Association will provide radon detection devices for the school districts to use. The only way to ensure the teachers and students are protected is to test for it at the school,” De Rose said.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.