Burlington, VT – As Vermonters gather for Thanksgiving, state health officials are issuing a quiet but serious warning: a deadly invisible gas could be building up indoors while families enjoy the holiday warmth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Department of Health are urging residents to test their homes for radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer after long-term exposure.
Radon forms naturally underground and seeps into homes through cracks in foundations, sump pumps, and pipe openings. Because it’s odorless and colorless, it can go undetected for years — and cold weather often makes it worse as windows stay closed.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 1 in 15 U.S. homes has unsafe radon levels. In Vermont, geological conditions make radon a known regional hazard, particularly in older homes and basements. Health officials emphasize that no level of radon exposure is considered safe, and recommend taking action if levels reach 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
Testing is simple and inexpensive — short-term radon kits, available online or at hardware stores, can provide results in as little as two days. If levels are high, certified mitigation specialists can install venting systems that lower radon by over 90%.
“Radon is invisible but not unstoppable,” CDC health experts said. “Testing your home this holiday season could save your life.”
With Thanksgiving gatherings bringing people into basements and living areas where radon is most concentrated, officials hope Vermonters will use the long weekend to start the conversation — and take the test.
