County combats carbon monoxide, radon levels

COUNTY – Elevated indoor radon levels and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning prompted the Waupaca County Department of Public Health (DPH) to launch its Healthy Homes initiative, a grant-funded program that is now wrapping up after distributing hundreds of free safety devices and tests to residents.

DPH received a $10,000 environmental health tracking grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services last year, which it used to launch the Healthy Homes initiative to educate the public on these invisible threats.

“We call both carbon monoxide and radon like an invisible threat to health because you can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it, but it is impacting individuals’ health,” Epidemiologist Hailey Prosek said.

Prosek and Community Health Educator Faith Parker gave a presentation to the county’s Board of Health late last month on the program.

Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that enters homes through cracks in foundations, according to Prosek. She said it is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, and smoking further increases the risk.

Historical data shows that of over 1,300 homes tested in the county, more than 50% recorded radon levels above the recommended safe threshold of 4 picocuries per liter, “but really, any radon exposure is harmful to health,” Prosek said.

To combat radon exposure, the department distributed 466 free test kits. The kits were available at the DPH public lobby, municipal buildings, Healthy Beginning and WIC programs, a local real estate partner, tabling at events and a public health vending machine in Clintonville.

Of the 78 kits returned for analysis, 45 showed dangerous radon levels, with an average result of 9 picocuries per liter. Some homes even registered more than 10 times the safe limit. DPH directly followed up with residents who received high results to provide resources on installing radon mitigation systems.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless toxic gas that is released from burning fuel or other combustible materials, according to information from DPH, which notes that high carbon monoxide exposure can damage tissues and result in death.

Public health data presented at the meeting showed that while unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning emergency department visits have steadily decreased across Wisconsin, Waupaca County’s rate has climbed. Between 2019 and 2023, the county’s average rate was more than double the statewide average.

To deal with carbon monoxide, DPH partnered with nine of the 11 local fire departments, placing carbon monoxide detectors directly into emergency vehicles. This allowed first responders to immediately distribute detectors if they noticed a home’s alarms were missing or outdated during a call.

Through fire departments and community organizations, a total of 315 free carbon monoxide detectors were distributed across the county.

Prosek said the county has seen a slight decline in the 2020-2024 average age-adjusted rate for carbon monoxide poisonings and she is hopeful that the county’s initiatives will drive those numbers down further in the years to come.

The preventative measures have already had an impact. In one documented case, a local fire department was able to replace a family’s severely outdated detectors after responding to an active alarm.

In another instance, a county case manager visiting a home provided a free carbon monoxide detector to a family who previously lacked one. Weeks later, the alarm sounded, allowing the family to safely evacuate their home during an active carbon monoxide leak.