Newark, New Jersey – A dangerous gas could already be building inside homes across northern New Jersey as cool spring nights keep windows closed, allowing radon—known as the “invisible killer”—to accumulate indoors within hours. The risk increases quickly when airflow is limited during overnight temperature swings common this time of year.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally in soil and can enter homes through foundation cracks, basements, sump pumps, and crawl spaces. New Jersey is considered a moderate- to high-risk state, with elevated radon levels detected across Bergen, Essex, and Morris counties, where some homes exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
In Newark and surrounding communities including Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth, homes with basements are especially vulnerable during early spring. Residents often keep homes sealed overnight to manage lingering cool air, which can trap radon indoors. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection warns that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, linked to about 21,000 deaths annually.
Radon exposure produces no immediate symptoms, making testing critical. Short-term test kits can return results within 48 to 96 hours, and mitigation systems can reduce indoor levels by up to 99 percent when properly installed.
Residents are urged to test homes now as conditions through April continue to support indoor buildup. Additional advisories may be issued as risks persist into early summer across the region.
