5 Radon Myths That Could Be Putting Your Kids at Risk

October is Children's Health Month, which makes it a good time to revisit a hazard that doesn't get talked about as much as it should: radon. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and because kids breathe faster and spend more time close to the ground, they can be more vulnerable to it than adults.

A lot of the reason radon gets overlooked comes down to a handful of common misconceptions. Here are five of the biggest ones — and why they don't hold up.

Myth #1: "I'd Be Able to Smell It If It Were There"

Radon is completely odorless and colorless. There's no smell, no visible sign, nothing that would tip you off during a normal day at home. It forms naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down, and it seeps into homes through foundation cracks, gaps around pipes, and sump pits — completely undetected unless you test for it.

That invisibility is exactly what makes it dangerous: you can't rely on your senses to warn you about a lung cancer risk.

Myth #2: "My Home Is Too New to Have a Radon Problem"

Radon comes from the ground, not from the house itself, so a home's age doesn't determine whether radon — and the lung cancer risk that comes with it — is present. New construction can have elevated levels just as easily as an older home, especially since well-sealed, energy-efficient homes can actually trap radon more effectively than drafty older ones.

Myth #3: "We Don't Have a Basement, So We're Not at Risk"

Basements tend to have the highest concentrations because they're closest to the ground, but radon can enter a home at any level — crawl spaces, slab foundations, even homes built on a hillside. If your home has any point of contact with the soil, radon has a way in.

Myth #4: "My Neighbor Tested and Their Levels Were Fine, So Mine Probably Are Too"

Radon levels are tied to local soil and bedrock composition, and that composition can vary significantly even within a short distance. Two homes on the same street can have very different readings — and very different lung cancer risk levels as a result. Here in the Upper Peninsula, many areas fall within higher-risk radon zones, but the only way to know your specific level is to test your specific home.

Myth #5: "My Kids Aren't That Affected Since They're Not Sick Right Now"

Radon exposure is a long-term risk, not something that causes immediate symptoms. There's no cough, no rash, no obvious sign that exposure is happening in the moment. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause overall, and that risk comes from cumulative exposure over time — not a single incident.

Kids are more susceptible to that cumulative effect because of their faster breathing rates and still-developing lungs, which means years of undetected exposure at home can matter more for them than for an adult. The absence of symptoms today doesn't mean the exposure, and the risk, isn't adding up.

Why This Matters for Families Specifically

Kids spend a lot of time doing exactly the things that increase radon exposure — crawling, playing, and napping close to the floor, where radon concentrations tend to be highest. Combine that with their faster breathing rate and developing lungs, and the same radon level that's a moderate lung cancer risk for an adult can represent a bigger one for a child over time.

The Only Way to Actually Know

None of these myths hold up against the basic fact that radon can't be seen, smelled, or predicted based on your home's age, layout, or your neighbor's results. Testing is the only reliable way to know whether your family is breathing air that carries an elevated lung cancer risk.

Test This October

Children's Health Month is a good reminder to take this off the "someday" list. A radon test is a simple, low-effort way to rule out — or catch early — a risk that's easy to miss and worth taking seriously.

If it's been a while since your home was tested, or you've never tested at all, reach out to UPCIS and we'll help you find out what's really in your air. Call me at 906.448.2549 or email ben@upinspect.com.