The Dispatch’s “Invisible Killer” investigation finds radon exposure widespread in Ohio, with low awareness, weak protections for kids and renters, inconsistent testing, and major gaps in screening and policy.
Environment & Climate
After The Dispatch exposed Ohio’s radon failures, demand for free test kits surged so sharply the state ran out, highlighting gaps in renter protections and lagging radon policy.
After a Dispatch investigation, Ohio health officials and the governor signal openness to expanding radon testing in schools, despite lawmakers previously rejecting funding and uneven protections statewide.
After exposing Ohio’s long-standing radon policy failures, The Dispatch reporters will answer reader questions in a live Reddit AMA about health risks and accountability.
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 veteran storyteller draws on a lifetime of covering wildfires and other climate disasters. "The important stories that we tell are behind the drama of the smoke and the flames,” he says.
Two disaster experts and an investigative journalist share reporting strategies for covering disasters and their aftermath as federal support recedes.