Wilmington, DE – As Thanksgiving gatherings fill Delaware homes with warmth and family, state health leaders are warning about a silent, invisible danger that could be building up inside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) are urging residents to test for radon, a radioactive gas that becomes most hazardous during winter months.
Radon forms when uranium in rock, soil, and groundwater breaks down naturally, releasing gas that can seep through cracks, sump pumps, or gaps in foundations. Once inside, it accumulates — particularly in basements or lower levels where families often gather. Because it has no color, odor, or taste, radon often goes unnoticed for years.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon exposure causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making it the second-leading cause behind smoking. The EPA recommends action if test results reach 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, though experts note there is no completely safe level.
Testing is simple, inexpensive, and the only way to know if your home is at risk. Short-term test kits, available online, at hardware stores, or through the Delaware Division of Public Health, can detect high levels in just a few days. For homes that test high, licensed radon mitigation professionals can install ventilation systems that lower levels by up to 90%.
“Radon doesn’t take holidays off,” CDC officials said. “Testing your home this Thanksgiving could prevent future illness.”
Delaware health officials note that New Castle and Kent counties are among areas most likely to experience elevated radon levels. With temperatures dropping and families spending more time indoors, they urge residents to make radon testing a Thanksgiving weekend priority — before this invisible threat lingers through winter.
