Webinar information
Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Radon is a radioactive gas naturally produced in the outdoor environment at very low levels. However, radon can build up in the air inside buildings and homes if it gets trapped inside. Breathing in these increased levels of radon over time can cause lung cancer. In recent decades, as smoking rates have declined, and environmental health concerns gain traction, national and state policies and initiatives have evolved to reduce the public health impact of radon.
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Katherine Pruitt
Katherine Pruitt, National Senior Director of Policy at the American Lung Association, and convenor of the National Radon Action Plan (NRAP) Leadership Council presented on these topics:
- Background information on the National Radon Action Plan Leadership Council and the evolution of the National Radon Action Plan
- An overview of NRAP 2021–2025's goals, strategy, and progress
Jessica Maloney
Jessica Maloney, Indoor Air and Radon Program Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Health discussed:
- Wisconsin's new radon testing and mitigation requirements for state-licensed childcare centers
- Wisconsin tribes addressing radon reduction statewide – an overview of radon initiatives recently implemented among indigenous communities