Portland, OR – As families across Oregon gather indoors for Thanksgiving, state health officials are sounding the alarm on a silent, invisible killer that could be seeping into homes this holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are urging residents to test for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses serious long-term health risks — especially during cold, wet months when homes are sealed tight.
Radon forms underground when uranium in rocks and soil naturally decays, releasing gas that seeps upward through cracks, basements, sump pumps, and foundations. Because it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless, radon often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks radon as the second-leading cause of lung cancer nationwide, responsible for more than 21,000 deaths each year. Oregon is considered a high-risk state, with elevated levels often found in Portland, Bend, and Medford, and across the Willamette Valley, where certain soil types and geology make homes more susceptible.
Testing is the only way to detect radon. Short-term test kits, available online, at hardware stores, or through the Oregon Radon Awareness Program, cost less than $25 and produce results in a few days. The EPA recommends mitigation for any home with readings at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) — though no level of radon is completely safe.
If high levels are detected, licensed mitigation contractors can install systems that vent radon safely outdoors, reducing indoor concentrations by up to 90%.
“Radon is invisible, odorless, and deadly — but it’s also preventable,” CDC officials said. “Testing your home this Thanksgiving could protect your family for years to come.”
As Oregonians gather indoors for the holidays, health experts urge everyone to add radon testing to their winter home-safety checklist before this silent threat lingers through the season.
