Cancer centers could help Native communities reduce radon exposure leading to lung cancer

A collaborative project between UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center and the Stockbridge-Munsee Health Center revealed significantly elevated radon levels in Native homes in Wisconsin, prompting successful mitigation efforts that addressed a key structural health risk.

• Of the 64 homes tested, 65.6% had high radon levels, far surpassing the state average of 10%, indicating a serious, previously underrecognized environmental health risk.
• The average radon level among all tested homes was 14.1 pCi/L, with some homes reaching as high as 111.6 pCi/L and an average of 18.7 pCi/L in high-radon homes.
• All homes with elevated radon levels received successful mitigation services, which residents reported would have been financially inaccessible without this program.
• Community education and outreach, led by tribal and state partners, contributed to a 75.3% test kit return rate, suggesting strong community engagement and trust.
• Satisfaction with the certified mitigation contractor was high and staff reported improved understanding of radon risks and procedures.