Dane County Receives $6,000 Grant To Reduce Dangers from Radon in Homes

July 29, 2004
Sharyn Wisniewski, County Executive’s Office (608) 267-8823

New homes for low-income families constructed by Habitat for Humanity of Dane County will be safe from Radon gas thanks to a $6,000 state grant received by the Dane County Department of Human Services Department’s Division of Public Health, County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today. “Radon is a natural, odorless, radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing an estimated 14,000 cancer deaths per year,” said Falk. “Radon is found in houses in all neighborhoods of Dane County. The only way to know the radon level in a house is to measure it.” The $6,000 grant from the State Department of Health and Family Services will be distributed by Dane County Public Health to Habitat for Humanity to make homes it constructs radon safe. The Dane County Division of Public Health also receives about $12,000 a year to operate a regional Radon information center. The role of the center is to provide advice and consultation on radon safe construction, radon screening in existing homes, and radon mitigation when screening demonstrates a radon hazard exists. Homes that test positive for Radon can be equipped with systems that remove the gas from the home. The information is also provided to other local health departments in Dane County’s assigned region (county health departments for Columbia and Rock; city health departments in Beloit and Madison); and to private businesses (building contractors, remodeling contractors, Realtors, etc.); and to citizens. The consultation is provided without charge. # # #