Environmental Health
Environmental Health is a part of public health that focuses on the interrelationships between people and their environment, promotes human health and well-being and fosters healthy and safe communities.
⇒ 2023 Lafayette County Environmental Health Profile
Air & Water Quality:
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas from the ground and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. 1 in 10 homes in Wisconsin have high radon levels. You cannot see or smell radon. Testing is the only way to know your level of exposure.
If your radon levels are high, a contractor can help fix it. Click this link Radon Measurement and Mitigation Contractorsfor a list of certified measurement or mitigation contractors in Wisconsin.
FREE RADON TESTING KITS are available at the Health Department. Call 608-776-4895 for more information.
- Lafayette County Health Dept Water Lab
- Radon Level in Lafayette County
- Lafayette County Radon Information
- Radon Information for Wisconsin
A well needs regular maintenance and inspection. You want to make sure it’s working safely and correctly. While most private wells in Wisconsin provide safe drinking water, some may contain substances that can affect our health. Many of these substances do not affect the color, smell, or taste of the water. The only way to make sure a well is safe for drinking is to test your well regularly.
WATER TEST KITS are available at the Health Department. Call 608-776-4895 for more information.
Human Health Hazards: Human Heath Hazard means a "substance, activity, or condition that is known to have the potential to cause a acute or chronic illness, to endanger life to generate or spread infectious diseases, or otherwise adversely affect the health of the public. The health department follows up on reports of potential human health hazards to protect public health, safety and general welfare and to maintain and protect the environment for the people of Lafayette County.
- hoarding
- environmental contamination
- mold
- lead paint
- blastomycosis
- blue-green algae
- pests
- groundwater contamination
- drug cleanup
Human Health Hazards can be reported to the Health Department at 608-776-4895.
Landscape Hazards: Collections are held to rid the landscape of hazards such as tires & mercury
Lead Safety:
Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in Wisconsin and the United States. If not detected and addressed early, children with elevated blood lead levels can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system.
Lead exposure in young children can cause reduced IQ and attention span, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and a range of other health and behavioral effects. Most exposures occur in homes or daycares built before 1978 from chipping and peeling lead-based paint and the lead-tainted dust it creates or where lead hazards have been created through renovation done without using lead-safe work practices.
Prevention of lead poisoning can be accomplished by eliminating lead-based paint hazards before children are exposed. Wisconsin's goal is to eliminate this disease by making Wisconsin's housing lead-safe, and by improving the detection and treatment of lead poisoning in children.
For more information:
Mosquito & Arboviral Control: Education on prevention and treatment are available
Bed Bugs:
Asbestos & Mold: Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has often been added to various building products to strengthen them, provide heat insulation, and make them fire resistant. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during building maintenance, renovation, or demolition activities, fibers can be released into the air people breathe.
Mold spores are constantly traveling through the air all around us and can be found both indoors and outdoors. It is not practical to expect a building or home be completely free of mold; however, indoor mold growth can be prevented and controlled.
Public Health Nuisance:
Investigates and addresses public health nuisances, and enforces the public health nuisance ordinance when necessary.
Flood Safety: One of the greatest concerns with flooding within public health is the contamination of the water. Flood water is often contaminated with bacteria, debris, and harmful chemicals that could pose a threat to humans.
For more information on any of the above, please call the Health Department to speak to a Public Health Nurse or the Environmentalist.
