Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – A dangerous gas could already be building inside homes across central Oklahoma as cool spring nights and shifting temperatures 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 cooling.
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, slab floors, and crawl spaces. Oklahoma is considered a moderate- to high-risk state, with elevated radon levels detected across Oklahoma County and surrounding areas, where some homes exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
In Oklahoma City and nearby communities including Edmond, Norman, and Moore, homes with slab foundations or crawl spaces are especially vulnerable during early spring. Residents often keep homes sealed overnight to maintain indoor temperatures, which can trap radon indoors. The Oklahoma State 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.
