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Known as the silent and invisible killer, radon is a naturally occurring gas in the ground that is radioactive and can cause lung cancer. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking. The gas can leak into your home from the ground. It’s common in Wisconsin; in fact, about 1 in 10 homes in Wisconsin has high radon levels. Testing is common when buying or selling a home. Yet, while you can’t see, smell, or taste radon, you can protect you and your family now from it with a simple, low-cost, test kit available from your local Radon Information Center, typically your local county health department.  “There is no way to predict the level of radon in your home. The only way to know is to test,” says Elizabeth Paulson, environmental health specialist for the Eau Claire City-County Health Department. Certified measurement professionals are also available. If radon levels in your home are high, licensed radon measurement and mitigation professionals throughout Wisconsin can fix the problem. 

For more info, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.