Nashville, TN – As Thanksgiving brings families together across Tennessee, state health officials are warning about an invisible and deadly gas that could be silently filling homes this holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) say radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, poses a serious health threat — particularly in colder months when homes are sealed for warmth.
Radon is produced as uranium in soil and rock naturally decays. It enters homes through cracks in foundations, sump pumps, and floor joints, where it can accumulate to dangerous levels. Because radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, most people don’t know it’s there until it’s too late.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making it the second-leading cause of lung cancer nationwide. Tennessee’s geography — particularly in Middle and East Tennessee, including Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga — makes it a known high-risk area for elevated radon levels.
Testing is the only way to know if your home is affected. Short-term radon test kits, available at hardware stores, online, or through the Tennessee Radon Program, can detect the gas in a few days and typically cost under $25. The EPA advises mitigation for any home testing 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher — though no level is completely safe.
If your home tests high, licensed mitigation specialists can install venting systems that reduce radon levels by up to 90%. Sealing basement cracks and improving airflow can also help as temporary solutions.
“Radon doesn’t make noise or leave a smell,” CDC officials warned. “Testing your home this Thanksgiving could save your family’s health.”
As families across Tennessee settle in for the holiday, health experts say this is the perfect time to test — before the silent killer lingers through winter.
