Salt Lake City, UT – As Thanksgiving celebrations fill homes across Utah, health officials are issuing a serious warning about a silent, invisible killer that could be building up inside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (UDHHS) are urging residents to test for radon, a radioactive gas that poses a major health risk — particularly during winter when homes are sealed to keep out the cold.
Radon forms as uranium in the soil and rock beneath homes naturally decays, releasing gas that seeps through cracks, drains, and foundation joints. Because it has no color, smell, or taste, radon can silently accumulate indoors to dangerous levels.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the country, responsible for over 21,000 deaths annually. Utah ranks among the top 10 states for high radon exposure, with the EPA estimating that 1 in 3 Utah homes exceeds the safety threshold of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) — particularly in areas like Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo.
Testing is simple, affordable, and the only way to detect radon. Short-term test kits, available online, at hardware stores, or through the Utah Radon Program, cost less than $25 and provide results within days. The EPA urges mitigation for any home testing at or above 4 pCi/L, though no level is completely safe.
If high levels are found, licensed mitigation specialists can install systems that vent the gas outside, reducing concentrations by up to 90%.
“Radon is invisible, odorless, and completely preventable,” CDC officials said. “Testing your home this Thanksgiving could save your life.”
As families across Utah gather indoors for the holidays, health experts encourage residents to make radon testing part of their winter home safety checklist — before this invisible killer lingers through the season.
