Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, studies by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and others show that Radon occurs in every county in Illinois. INDS found in its study that 63% of the homes that were tested in Tazewell County had indoor Radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or greater. Studies that show high Radon levels occur often in central Illinois, no matter where you live, there is still reason for concern. The U.S. EPA has set 4 pCi/L as the Action Level, the level at which residents should take steps to reduce Radon levels. Screening results for Tazewell County are shown in the table below

Yes, radon testing is easy and inexpensive. Radon detectors are available at hardware stores or by calling IEMA for a list of licensed laboratories that sell detectors.

Yes, Radon is a class A human carcinogen, which means there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer in humans. The National Academy of Science's Sixth Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Gradation (BEIR VI) study reaffirmed USEPA's risk estimate for radon exposure. In addition to USEPA, Radon's risk is recognized by the: American Medical Association, U.S. Center for Disease Control, American Lung Association, World Health Organization and many others.

Yes, in 1997, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Radon Industry Licensing Act. This new law prohibits interfering with or causing another person to interfere with the successful completion of a Radon measurement or the installation or operation of a Radon mitigation system. This section applies to everyone, not just individuals that required to be licensed. Expensive penalties may be assessed against those who violate this act.

Yes, Any home can have elevated Radon levels. It doesn't matter whether your house is old or new or whether it has a basement, crawlspace, or slab-on-grade foundation. Most Radon enters a home because of air pressure and temperature differentials between the indoors and outdoors. When air is exhausted by a natural or powered ventilation, make-up air is drawn in through openings in the foundation from the surrounding soil.

Yes, indoor Radon levels can be lowered by installing a Radon mitigation system that collects Radon prior to its entry into the house and discharges it to a safe location. Contact a mitigation licensed by IEMA to reduce the Radon levels in your home. Radon mitigation system installation costs vary, depending on the characteristics of the house and choice of Radon reduction methods. Residents own home; however, without proper equipment or technical knowledge, you could increase the Radon level or create other potential hazards. (Radon detectors come in a variety of shapes. Charcoal detectors are short-term tests. Alpha track detectors are long term tests.)

Indoor pollution sources that release particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation and increase pollutants are another cause. High temperature and humidity can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

Certain immediate effects are similar to those from cold or flu. It is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to an indoor are pollutant. Effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. These effects are usually short term and treatable. There are several diseases, which have been linked to indoor air pollution, these include asthma, hypersensitivity, pneumonia, humidifier fever, and lung cancer.

Identify sources of potential indoor pollutant sources. Although, just the presence of some sources does not indicative of an indoor air quality problem. Knowing the sources, type, and number is an important first step in assessing your IAQ problem.

All of these items are potential sources:

• Asbestos
• Building Materials
• Carpeting
• Coal
• Furniture
• Gas
• Household Cleaning Products
• Humidifiers
• Insulation
• Kerosene
• Oil
• Paint
• Perfume
• Pesticides
• Pets
• Radon
• Tobacco
• Toiletries
• Wood

There are a few basic steps to improving indoor air quality. The most effective first step is to eliminate the source. This maybe accomplished by removing, sealing, or enclosing individual sources. Source control is the most cost effective approach to protecting indoor air quality. Second is increasing ventilation, which may lower the concentrations of pollutant in a home, by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. 

Most home heating and cooling systems do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Opening windows, operating window fans, attic fans, or running window air conditioners with vents open increases outdoor air ventilation. Running kitchen and bathroom fans that exhaust outdoors can remove some localized pollutants. Third, air cleaners are another option. There are many sizes and different types of air cleaners. 

Some cleaners are highly effective at particle removal while others are much less effective. These air cleaners draw air through a filtering element and push out filtered air. Because of this the maintenance of the unit affects the effectiveness of the unit.

No, radon testing in schools is not required by law.  It is, however, recommended that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon. Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) does offer a school screening program to help reduce the cost to school districts for the radon tests. The Illinois School Code allows school district employees to complete an online training course approved by IEMA to perform screening measurements in their district school buildings. By using a trained school district employee to conduct the tests, districts won't have the expense of hiring a licensed radon measurement contractor. For more information: https://iemaohs.illinois.gov/nrs/radon/schoolscreeningprogram.html

Services include:

• Dental Clinic Services
• FIT Kits (Colorectal Cancer Home Screening Kits)
• Hearing and Vision
• Immunization (Adult)
• Immunization (Children)
• STD and HIV Testing
• TB Skin Testing
• Titers

Clinical Services

• Adult Services including Immunizations/STD/HIV/Pregnancy/TB
• Children Immunizations

Environmental Health

• Environmental Health Fee Schedule

After School Programs
Parent Handbook and Program Registration Forms (PDF)

Dental Services
Dental Forms

Environmental Health
Environmental Health Forms (PDF)

Our IBCCP group serves Tazewell, Marshall, Peoria, and Woodford counties.

The ages that IBCCP serves for breast services is 40-64 as well as younger women in a case by case basis. 

The ages that IBCCP serves for cervical services is 35-64 as well as younger women in a case by case basis.

Print the Enrollment Forms located at the back of the 21st Century Schools Parent Handbook. Once complete, contact the Site Coordinator at your child's school to submit forms and determine a start date.

The State of Illinois no longer issues the Food Service Manager Certification.   Each food establishment shall be under the supervision of a Certified Food Protection Manager who has attended an approved Conference of Food Protection 8 hours class and passed an exam every 5 years.  There are no longer any refresher courses.  Here is a list of Tazewell County food protection classes.  

To allow adequate time for staff to schedule inspections, a minimum of 5 working days is required before a late fee is charged. 

Temporary Permit Application Fee Schedule:

$20.00 if paid for 5 or more working days prior to the inspection.

$30.00 if NOT paid 5 working days prior to the event. Repeated failure to not pay prior to event, applications will be charged $75.00

$40.00 if paid for at the time of inspection (event).  Repeated failure to pay at event, applications will be charged $100.00

There are periodic household hazardous waste events which we will post.  Please click here for the Illinois EPA’s website for drop off events nearest you.  You can also find helpful tips on other ways to safely discard of household waste.

 If you have signs of bed bugs in your home, it is time to start an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. More than one method will need to be employed to control the bugs. Some different strategies include:

• mattress covers or encasements, heat (drying items in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes)
• pesticides
• traps:
• and vacuuming (this does not kill the bed bugs and the vacuum bag must be disposed of immediately). 

A thorough inspection of the premises is important in the aide of controlling bed bugs. Learn more about bed bugs here.

After coming inside after spending time outdoors, make sure you check yourself for ticks. If you do find a tick, keep an eye on the bite area. If you experience a rash that looks like a bull's-eye, or a rash anywhere on the body or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever following a tick bite, you should consult your physician and explain that you were bitten by a tick. You can also bring the tick into your local health department for identification.

Wear protective clothing such as long pants and shirts that are light colored. 

Wear repellent. Repellent containing 10-30% DEET is recommended. Avoid applying repellent to sensitive areas such as the face. 

Avoid being outdoors from dusk to dawn. 

Keep a well-maintained yard and dump standing water.

If you find that a bird has died under odd circumstances, please contact Tazewell County Animal Control at 309-925-3370. Because of the spread of H5N1 bird flu, TCHD will not be collecting dead birds for West Nile Virus testing in 2025.

If you are outside of city limits or your city does not have a complaint/inspection department and you have a complaint to file, you can call Environmental Health at 309-929-0272 or you can make a complaint online.   If you are in city limits, contact your city complaints department.

If the overgrown vegetation is ornamental bushes, vines, etc., it is exempt from the nuisance ordinance and it cannot be enforced. If the vegetation is grass or weeds that exceed 10 inches on a parcel of less than an acre, call Environmental Health at (309) 929-0272 and file a complaint. Remember, we cannot enforce how something looks. If it is within city limits, contact your local city inspections or code enforcement department.

No! The only thing that can be burned is landscape waste that was generated on your property. If you are within a city limits, check for landscape waste burn days.

If you are outside of city limits or your city does not have a complaint/inspection department and you have a complaint to file, you can call Environmental Health at 309-929-0272 or you can make a complaint online.  Please be prepared to give the nature of the complaint and the address/location of the complaint, as well as your name and contact information.   If you are in city limits, please contact your Code Enforcement Office regarding your complaint. Below is the contact information for the different communities within the county.

City of Pekin Inspections 477-2315

City of Creve Coeur 699-6714

City of Morton 266-5361

City of Washington 444-1122

City of East Peoria 698-4717

For microblading, you would need to follow the same requirements as a licensed body artist. Here is the application for Body Art Facilities.  Once you have completed the state application and paid the license fee, the Illinois Department of Public Health will notify TCHD that you are ready for your initial inspection. A registration with Tazewell County will be completed during the initial inspection.  If you have any questions, please contact TCHD at 309-929-0272.