From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— State health officials are urging property owners and schools to test for radon, noting one in 10 homes in Wisconsin have elevated levels of the hazardous material.
The state Department of Health Services today warned the colorless, odorless gas can enter homes through the foundations, posing a major health risk. The agency notes radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, with about 962 people in Wisconsin affected by radon-induced cases of the disease.
“Indoor radon levels tend to increase during the colder months, so now is the perfect time to test your home or building for radon if you haven’t before,” DHS State Health Officer Paula Tran said in the release, which also says radon is easy to test for and leaks can be fixed.
Wisconsin has 17 information centers around the state focused on radon, which provide inexpensive testing kits, the release shows.
The agency is also touting the impact of a rule change enacted by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families in 2023, which requires licensed child care providers to test for radon and put in a mitigation system if necessary. Since the rule took effect, Tran says 41 child care centers have mitigated high radon levels, improving the environment for at least 820 kids.
Children tend to be more sensitive to radon exposure, as they have smaller lungs and faster breathing rates, according to DHS.
“Preventing exposure to high radon in places where kids spend a lot of time is a significant way to reduce their overall exposure to radon,” Tran said.
See the release below.
— Federal officials have rolled out nearly $5.5 million in new funding for Wisconsin organizations to address “home health hazards” such as lead.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced more than $226 million in total funding across the country, including three grants in the state. Green Bay-based nonprofit Newcap, Inc. is getting nearly $1.48 million, while the cities of Milwaukee and Selma are getting $2 million each.
Funding is to be used to boost local capacity for lead abatement and other interventions to improve home safety, support local workforce development focused on housing renovation and hazard assessment and more.
See a state-level funding breakdown here.
— WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com are hosting a virtual luncheon Jan. 15 at noon to explore how policymakers and the health care community can improve youth mental health.
The one-hour event will feature four panelists:
- Maureen Busalacchi, director of the Division of Alcohol Policy Prevention and Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin and current president of the Wisconsin Public Health Association Inc.
- Dr. Mary Pfeifer, retired (2024) Neenah Joint School District superintendent;
- Debbie Patz, vice president of Bellin Psychiatric Center, Emplify Health;
- And Erich Pfeifer, president and CEO of Marine Travelift.
Register for the free event here.
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Press Releases
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