Indoor Air Hazards
Mold
Mold spores are constantly traveling through the air all around us and can be found both indoors and outdoors. It is not practical to expect a building or home be completely free of mold; however, indoor mold growth can be prevented and controlled.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS) has resources to help individuals understand the impact mold exposure can have on health, how to prevent mold growth, and how to fix indoor mold problems.
Resources
Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless, gas that is natural in soil and rock that enters buildings through cracks in the basement, walls and gaps around pipes. This odorless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the first leading cause among non-smokers.
The WI Department of Health Services (WI DHS) estimates that 1 out of every 10 homes has high radon levels of greater than 4 pCi/L. Both old and new buildings can have unsafe radon levels.
The only way to know if your home has unsafe levels is to test for it. Testing is easy, inexpensive and can be completed in a do-it-yourself fashion. Radon test kits are available for purchase at most hardware stores.
Radon levels can be lowered in any home, and new houses can be built to be radon-resistant. This involves installing a system to vent the radon gas outside and get it out of the building. Even very high levels can be dropped to acceptable levels. The WI DHS maintains a list of certified contractors in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Radon Information Centers have low cost test kits available and experts who can answer your questions. Call 1-888-569-7236.
Visit the WI Department of Health Services for additional information on radon.
For more information on indoor air quality concerns visit US Environmental Protection Agency.
