Milwaukee, WI – As Thanksgiving brings families together indoors across Wisconsin, state health officials are warning about a deadly invisible danger that could be hiding beneath homes this holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) say radon, a radioactive gas that seeps from the ground, poses a serious health threat — especially when homes are sealed against the cold.
Radon forms as uranium in soil and rock naturally decays, releasing gas that moves upward through cracks in basements, drains, and foundations. Because it has no color, smell, or taste, it can quietly accumulate indoors to dangerous levels without any warning signs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies radon as the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, responsible for more than 21,000 deaths every year. The EPA urges action if radon levels reach 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, though experts stress that no level is completely safe.
Wisconsin’s geology makes it one of the states most at risk for elevated radon levels, particularly in southeastern and central regions, including Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay. The Wisconsin Radon Program offers free or discounted test kits through local health departments, helping residents test their homes quickly and easily.
Testing is the only way to detect radon. Short-term test kits, available online or at hardware stores for under $25, provide results in just a few days. If high levels are found, certified mitigation contractors can install systems that vent radon safely outdoors, reducing levels by up to 90%.
“Radon doesn’t announce itself, but it can claim lives silently,” CDC officials said. “Testing this Thanksgiving could save a Wisconsin family from tragedy.”
With families gathering indoors across the Badger State, health leaders urge residents to take a few minutes to test their homes before this silent killer lingers into the long winter months.
