Little Rock, Arkansas – A dangerous gas could already be building inside homes across central Arkansas as mild spring days and cooler 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.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally in soil and seeps into homes through foundation cracks, crawl spaces, and slab floors. Arkansas is considered a moderate radon-risk state, but elevated levels have been detected across Pulaski County and surrounding areas, where some homes exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
In Little Rock and nearby communities including North Little Rock, Conway, and Benton, homes with crawl spaces or slab foundations are especially vulnerable during early spring. Residents often keep homes sealed overnight to maintain indoor comfort, which can trap radon indoors. The Arkansas 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 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.
