Success Story: Protecting Tribal Health Through Radon Awareness and Action on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation
Challenge:
Lung cancer is a devastating disease that disproportionately impacts Native American communities in Wisconsin. The incidence rate among Native Wisconsinites is 94.8 per 100,000—significantly higher than the 55.4 per 100,000 among white Wisconsinites and the national average of 39.9 for Indigenous populations. Contributing factors include elevated smoking rates and limited radon awareness and testing. Radon—a naturally occurring, colorless, and odorless radioactive gas—is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Despite its deadly effects, many Tribal communities lack the resources and information to detect and address radon exposure in homes.
Recognizing the urgency of the issue, the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative sought to mobilize partnerships to improve radon awareness and reduce lung cancer risk among Native populations.
Action:
In response, the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative facilitated a groundbreaking partnership with the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Tribe and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Between April 2023 and September 2024, this collaboration launched a radon assessment and education initiative on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation.
The team distributed 84 free radon test kits to local households and collected data on indoor radon levels. Alongside the testing effort, the initiative launched targeted community outreach and education campaigns to raise awareness about the hidden health risks of radon and empower residents with preventive knowledge.
Results
The results revealed a critical environmental health concer:
- 55.9% (47 of 84 homes) tested above the EPA's recommended radon action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
- The median radon level among these homes was 22.7 pCi/L, more than five times the recommended limit.
- The highest level recorded reached an alarming 111.6 pCi/L, indicating severe exposure risks.
- Elevated radon levels were found across various home types and during both warm and cold seasons—demonstrating that the risk is both widespread and persistent year-round.
Conclusion
This partnership exposed dangerously high and previously undetected radon levels on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation, highlighting radon exposure as a potential driver of lung cancer disparities in Native communities. These findings provide a foundation for urgent intervention and ongoing health protection efforts.
Public Health Implications
This initiative exemplifies how community-academic partnerships can uncover hidden environmental threats and catalyze meaningful health improvements. By combining culturally responsive outreach, accessible testing, and scientific analysis, the project has laid the groundwork for broader radon mitigation and education efforts in Tribal communities.
Most importantly, it marks a crucial step forward in reducing lung cancer disparities and promoting environmental justice for Native populations in Wisconsin and beyond.