MONROE — January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the ground. Radon can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, openings around joints or pipes, and through dirt floors. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon is a risk factor for lung cancer. The only way to know the level of radon in your home is to test for it. Green County Public Health is urging all Green County homeowners to test their home for radon this month.  

In honor of Radon Action Month, Green County Public Health is offering free radon test kits, while supplies last. To get a test kit, community members can call Green County Public Health at (608) 328-9390 to schedule a time to pick up their kit. Radon test kits are also available for purchase at many hardware stores and online. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that all homeowners test their home at least once for radon.

The U.S. Surgeon General advises that exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking cigarettes. Smoking combined with radon exposure puts people at an even higher risk of developing lung cancer. 

Radon levels are different in different parts of Green County. In the 53566 zip code, which includes Monroe, 64% of homes tested for radon had levels over the EPA recommended limit. In the 53520 (Brodhead) 44% have elevated levels, and 73% of homes tested in the 53574 zip code (New Glarus) have elevated levels. Community members can view this data and data for other zip codes on this interactive map from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://arcg.is/1q9Hna0.

Homes with high levels of radon can be fixed. Radon mitigation systems use a pipe and fan to route radon out from underneath your home to the outside, which prevents radon from entering your home. There are many certified professionals located in southern Wisconsin who can install a radon mitigation system if your home has a high level of radon. To learn more about radon mitigation, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm.

To stay up to date on all things Green County Public Health, monitor the Green County Public Health website, gcpublichealth.org, and Facebook page.