This work is supported in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, through the State Indoor Radon Grants. Attempting to retroactively seal foundations to keep radon from the ground out of a home is largely ineffective. As the number of homeowners obtaining needed repairs increases, significant lung cancer risk reduction is being achieved in a voluntary, non-regulatory setting. State and local public health programs in Wisconsin to reduce exposures to radon in indoor air began more than 10 years ago. The report is a comprehensive, significance-weighted review of all the evidence.
Lung cancer is the only known health effect.
Tobacco smoke is a co-carcinogen with radon. Although tobacco smoke is by far the predominant cause of lung cancer, radon control is a way for former smokers and never-smokers to reduce their lung cancer risks. Radon testing, and home remediation for those confirmed to have elevated radon, are continuing at a steady rate in Wisconsin. Congress is continuing funding for outreach by the states. Public skepticism continues in some quarters, as for other environmental health concerns, but seems to be diminishing.