Buffalo, New York – A dangerous gas could already be building inside homes across western New York as cold spring nights keep windows closed, allowing radon—known as the “invisible killer”—to accumulate indoors within hours. The risk can rise 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 seeps into homes through foundation cracks, sump pumps, and basement floors. New York presents a mixed radon risk, but elevated levels are frequently detected across western and central parts of the state, including Erie County, where some homes exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
In Buffalo and surrounding communities such as Cheektowaga, Amherst, and Tonawanda, older homes with basements are especially vulnerable during early spring. Residents often keep homes sealed overnight to manage lingering cold, which can trap radon indoors. The New York State Department of Health reports 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 favor indoor buildup. Additional advisories may be issued as risks persist into early summer.
