Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States. When you breathe in radon gas, radioactive particles can become trapped in your lungs and emit radiation that damages lung tissue over time. The EPA estimates radon causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels significantly increases your risk, which is why testing and mitigation are so important.

Radon originates from the natural decay of uranium, which is found in varying concentrations in soil and rock beneath nearly every home. As uranium breaks down, it produces radium, which then decays into radon gas. This gas moves upward through the ground and can enter your home through any opening where the structure contacts the soil. Radon can be found in homes of all types, ages, and construction styles.

Radon typically enters a home through cracks in the foundation floor and walls, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, and through sump pits. Because homes create a slight vacuum relative to the surrounding soil, radon is actually drawn in from the ground below. Finished and unfinished basements, crawl spaces, and slab-on-grade foundations are all vulnerable entry points. Even well-sealed homes can have elevated radon levels.

Radon exists in outdoor air at very low, generally harmless levels, but it becomes a health concern when it accumulates indoors. It can be found in any home regardless of age, geographic location, or construction type. In Wisconsin specifically, 1 in 2 homes has radon levels above the EPA's action level of 4.0 pCi/L. This makes testing especially important for homeowners throughout the Green Bay, Appleton, and Milwaukee areas.