Seattle, WA – As Washington families gather indoors for Thanksgiving, state health officials are warning of a silent, invisible killer that could be lurking beneath their homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are urging residents to test for radon, a radioactive gas that builds up inside homes — especially during the cold, wet months when ventilation is limited.
Radon forms when uranium in the soil and rock naturally breaks down, releasing gas that seeps upward through cracks in foundations, pipes, or basements. Because it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless, it can accumulate without any visible warning signs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies radon as the second-leading cause of lung cancer nationwide, linked to more than 21,000 deaths annually. While western Washington generally has lower radon levels, elevated readings are common east of the Cascades — particularly in Spokane, Yakima, and Walla Walla Counties, where soil composition allows radon to rise into homes more easily…