According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), 1 in 10 Wisconsin homes have high radon levels. Radon is a gas that seeps into homes, typically on lower levels, from soil and water. When radon gas radioactively decays, the products cause damage to lung cells upon exposure from inhalation, posing a great threat to human health. According to the CDC, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, following only cigarette smoking. 

As a Wisconsin native and a public health student, this topic is of great concern to me. Radon exposure is affecting the lives of neighbors, family and friends – likely without them knowing. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year among non-smokers are caused by radon, and approximately 962 of these deaths are in Wisconsin. That is an unacceptable number of deaths of our fellow Wisconsinites that are completely preventable by a measure as simple as radon testing in homes. Testing for radon is the only way to know if your home has high radon levels. In order for mitigation systems to be installed, testing must occur. Clearly, this is a public health concern that demands the attention of state policymakers to address this issue. There are currently no laws in the state of Wisconsin that require radon testing in homes. However, it is strongly recommended by the Wisconsin DHS. 

This petition calls on our state legislators, namely Representatives Greta Neubauer and Tyler August and Senators Dianne Hesselbein and Devin LeMahieu, to pass legislation mandating standardized radon testing on all purchases and sales of Wisconsin Homes. Such a mandate can prevent hundreds of cases of lung cancer every year in our state. Please sign this petition to work towards safer living conditions for all in Wisconsin.