Wisconsin health officials urge residents to test their homes for

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is urging residents to test their homes for radon, a naturally occurring gas that causes lung cancer.

About 1 out of every 10 homes in Wisconsin has high levels of radon gas. In the United States, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, says the DHS.

Radon is not detectable via sight or smell, so health officials recommend testing your home in order to reduce the risk for high exposure to radon.

Manitowoc County residents can get tests by contacting the Manitowoc County Health Department.

Here’s what to know:

Table of Contents

What is radon?

Radon 101

As the new year brings new goals, make creating a healthy home one of yours! Did you know that 1 in 10 #Wisconsin homes has high #radon levels? During Radon Action Month, learn how to protect yourself and your family from this cancer-causing gas atwww.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm #RadonActionMonth #HealthyHome

Posted by Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Friday, January 10, 2025

Radon is a radioactive gas the occurs naturally when radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater, according to the EPA. You can be exposed to radon from breathing radon in the air from the crack and gaps in building and homes.

Wisconsin indoor radon test results:

The DHS publishes an interactive map of radon test results to show where radon levels are the highest. You can find that map below.

What are dangerous levels of radon?

Average indoor levels of radon in U.S. homes is about 1.3 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). While there is not a safe level of exposure to radon, the EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more.

How to test your home for radon:

Across Wisconsin there are more than a dozen information centers that sell low-cost test kits to the general public. You can find your nearest center and receive more information on how to purchase a testing kit here.

Residents in Manitowoc County can get tests by contacting the Manitowoc County Health Department, 920-683-4454. The health department also offers kits to residents in Brown, Calumet, Door and Kewaunee counties.

How to decrease radon levels in your home:

Contractors can install a radon mitigation system in your home for around $1,000 to $2,000. The system uses a fan to pull radon from under your home and vent it out through a PVC pipe to the outside of your home.

The DHS recommends finding a radon professional via an EPA-recognized third-party organization that certifies radon contractors. Those organizations include: the National Radon Proficiency Program and the National Radon Safety Board.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: do Wisconsin homes need tested for cancer-causing radon gas

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