Charleston, WV – As Thanksgiving gatherings bring warmth and family together across West Virginia, health officials are warning residents about a silent, invisible killer that may be rising beneath their homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) are reminding residents to test for radon, a radioactive gas that poses a serious health threat when trapped indoors.
Radon forms when uranium in soil and bedrock naturally breaks down, releasing gas that seeps into homes through cracks, drains, and foundations. Because it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless, families can breathe it for years without realizing it’s there.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon exposure leads to more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making it the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the nation. West Virginia’s geology and high levels of shale and sandstone make parts of the state, including Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington, especially vulnerable to elevated radon levels.
Testing is the only way to detect radon. Short-term test kits, available online, at hardware stores, or through the West Virginia Radon Program, can measure levels in a matter of days. The EPA recommends mitigation if radon readings reach 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher — though no level is completely safe.
If a home tests high, certified mitigation specialists can install venting systems that draw radon from beneath the house and vent it outdoors, reducing exposure by up to 90%. Sealing foundation cracks and improving ventilation are also temporary preventive steps.
“Radon doesn’t take a holiday,” CDC officials said. “Testing this Thanksgiving could save your family’s health.”
As families across West Virginia gather indoors for the holiday, health officials urge residents to make radon testing part of their winter safety checklist — before this invisible danger lingers through the season.
