© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

Idaho Dept. Of Health And Welfare: Risk Of Radon Poisoning Increases In Winter Months

Lee/ Flickr Creative Commons
Radon Detector

Winter means battening down the hatches to keep out the chilly temperatures. But what if closing windows and doors might boost the risk of inhaling dangerous gases?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless — which can spell trouble.

Radon can leak into your home through cracks and gaps in the foundation or walls at any time of the year, but in the spring and summer, people are more likely to open doors and windows.

“Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking," said Megan Larsen, the environmental health program manager at the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. 

She says this helps dilute the radon that is in the home, whereas in the winter, the radon tends to build up.

“Highest levels are during the winter, when homes are heated and the air becomes more stagnant," Larsen said.

She says it’s important to check your home using a radon test kit. If you detect high levels of the gas, the best thing to do is contact a nationally-certified radon mitigation professional.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.