Albuquerque, New Mexico – A dangerous gas could already be building inside homes across central New Mexico as large spring temperature swings keep windows closed overnight, allowing radon—known as the “invisible killer”—to accumulate indoors within hours. The risk increases quickly when airflow is limited during cooler desert nights and early morning hours.
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, slab floors, and crawl spaces. New Mexico is considered a moderate radon-risk state, but elevated levels have been detected across Bernalillo County and surrounding areas, where some homes exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
In Albuquerque and nearby communities including Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Los Lunas, homes built on slab foundations or with basements are especially vulnerable during seasonal transitions. Residents often keep homes sealed overnight to maintain indoor temperatures, which can trap radon indoors. The New Mexico Department of Health 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 the only reliable way to detect it. 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.
