An Ohio Dispatch investigation exposed widespread radon risks after testing homes, finding nearly 80% above EPA limits, driven by years of reporting, grants, and community-based testing.
Community & Public Health
Radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, affects an estimated 50% of Ohio homes. The state lacks testing mandates despite known health risks and widespread contamination across all 88 counties.
Research suggests fracking may increase radon exposure in nearby homes, yet Ohio lacks testing requirements. One attorney is advocating for radon testing stipulations in drilling contracts.
Annie Cacciato's stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis in Licking County — the nation's radon epicenter — sparked a crusade for awareness and policy reform, resulting in Ohio's radon awareness month legislation.
Ohio public housing agencies fail to consistently test rental properties for radon, leaving vulnerable tenants unaware of exposure to the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.
A senior couple faces eviction from an affordable housing complex amid Sacramento County's failure to address 'renovictions' that advocates say intensify the affordable housing crisis.
Rural communities face longer EMS response times, making community first-aid knowledge critical.
Most Ohio school districts fail to test for radon despite EPA recommendations since 1989.
Ohio faces a radon crisis with Newark having the nation's highest concentrations. Despite decades of knowledge, the state lacks mandatory testing, funding for mitigation, and radon education in medical schools.
Even before the SNAP freeze, Massachusetts families were already going hungry