A radon fan on display at A-1 Vacuum and Radon in Green Bay. January 7, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A new partnership provides Brown County residents with free tools to detect harmful radon levels.
Brown County Public Health and the Brown County Library launched a program that allows residents to check out digital radon testing devices, just like a book.
The goal is to increase education about radon’s health risks and improve long-term outcomes for Brown County residents.
Radon, an odorless radioactive gas formed from the decay of uranium and radium in rocks and soil. It can seep into buildings through their foundations. Radon causes more lung cancer among non-smokers than second-hand tobacco smoke. It is responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths every year in Wisconsin.
“Radon is found at elevated levels in approximately one in 10 homes across the state,” said Anna Nick, Brown County Health Officer. “The only way to know if your house or apartment has elevated levels is to test. This new program offers a free, convenient way for people to check radon levels where they live.”
More than 100 radon mitigation contractors in Wisconsin are nationally certified to install radon mitigation systems if elevated radon levels are found. Thousands of systems are installed in existing homes each year. The average cost for a contractor to install a radon mitigation system is $1,000-$2,000.
“The first step is to test, and using these devices is simple,” said Grace Rollin, program lead for Brown County Public Health. “They come in a case with batteries and instructions explaining what to do and how to interpret the results. After one-to-two weeks, the device can be returned to the library and loaned out again, over and over.”
In total, 45 digital radon testing devices were purchased for the program using grant money secured through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. They are available at all Brown County Library branches. Brown County Public Health manages device inventory and upkeep.
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