Some health risks come with obvious warning signs. Radon is different. Because radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, you cannot detect it with your senses. Testing is the only way to know whether elevated radon levels are in your home. 

For lung cancer survivor and health advocate Shira Boehler, that invisible risk is one she chooses to monitor at home. Shira, a mother of four, was diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer despite being a healthy runner and a lifelong non-smoker. Her experience has helped bring more attention to lung cancer risks beyond smoking. 

Shira joined the Ecosense Radon-Free Campaign to raise radon awareness and explains why continuous radon monitoring has become part of her approach to creating peace of mind at home. 

Today, Shira uses an Ecosense EcoQube radon monitor to show how having information about an invisible environmental risk can provide reassurance.

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A post shared by Shira Kupperman Boehler (@shiraboehler)

Why Radon Is So Easy to Overlook

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released as elements such as uranium, thorium, and radium break down in soil and rock. It can move through the ground and enter buildings through cracks in floors, walls, and foundations, construction joints, sump openings, and gaps around pipes.

Once radon enters a home, it can accumulate in indoor air. Even neighboring homes can have very different radon levels because conditions beneath and around each property can differ. That means a neighbor's test result cannot tell you what is happening inside your own home.

The challenge is simple: radon provides no obvious warning. There is no smell to notice and no visible sign to look for. Testing therefore becomes an important first step in understanding your home's indoor radon level.

What Does Radon Have to Do With Lung Cancer?

Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels can increase the risk of lung cancer. As radon decays, it produces radioactive particles that can be inhaled into the lungs. These particles can damage the cells lining the lungs over time. The National Cancer Institute states that scientists agree radon causes lung cancer.

Radon exposure especially matters for people who have never smoked. According to the CDC, about 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases in the United States, around 20,000 to 40,000 each year, occur in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes during their lifetime. The CDC identifies radon as an environmental factor associated with lung cancer in this population. 

That makes Shira's advocacy especially relevant to a broader conversation about lung cancer. Her story does not establish that radon caused her individual diagnosis. Instead, it highlights why understanding environmental risks can be important even for people who have never smoked, to reduce their risks.

Why Shira Chooses Continuous Radon Monitoring

Shira's approach also highlights a difference between testing for radon and continuously monitoring it.

A short-term test measures radon during a defined period, while long-term testing can provide a better indication of average exposure over time. Indoor radon concentrations can also vary as environmental and household conditions change.

Continuous monitoring provides another way to observe those changes and see trends rather than relying on a single measurement.

In her Instagram post, Shira shared that she had been using an Ecosense EcoQube radon monitor for several months and that her readings had consistently stayed in the green range, under 2.0 pCi/L.

EcoQube uses a pulsed ion-chamber sensor and provides a first radon reading in about 10 minutes, with readings updated every 10 minutes. Its app also allows users to review radon trends over time.

For someone monitoring an invisible risk, that ongoing information, together with the safety labels, can make indoor radon levels easier to understand and manage.

What Should Homeowners Do If They Have Never Tested for Radon?

If you do not know your home's radon level, testing is a practical place to start.

1. Test Your Home

The CDC recommends testing if your home has never been tested or its radon level is unknown. Testing can be done with a do-it-yourself test kit or through a qualified radon professional.

Testing is also recommended when preparing to buy or sell a home, before and after renovations, and when a lower level is converted into a bedroom, office, or other regularly occupied space.

2. Understand Your Radon Level

In the United States, radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L).

The EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. It also recommends considering action when levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L, because there is no known completely safe level of radon exposure.

If a test shows an elevated result, homeowners should follow appropriate testing and mitigation guidance rather than trying to interpret a single reading as a personal health diagnosis.

3. Monitor Changes Over Time

Radon levels can change over time. Continuous monitoring helps homeowners identify patterns that may not be apparent from one isolated measurement.

This can be particularly useful for understanding how indoor radon behaves across different periods or after changes to the home.

4. Take Action When Levels Remain Elevated

If testing indicates elevated radon, consult a qualified professional about appropriate radon reduction measures. The CDC recommends contacting a qualified professional for a radon reduction system when levels are at or above 4 pCi/L.

After mitigation, retesting can help determine whether radon levels have been reduced as intended.

Radon Awareness Starts With Knowing

Shira's experience offers a personal perspective on a public-health issue that can easily go unnoticed. Her decision to monitor radon is not about being able to see a problem. It is about having information about something that cannot be detected through the senses.

Radon is invisible and odorless, but homeowners do not have to remain unaware of their indoor radon levels. Testing establishes a starting point, while continuous monitoring provides additional insight into changes over time.

Ecosense's Radon-Free Campaign with Shira Boehler aims to increase awareness of radon exposure while supporting access to early lung cancer screening through The Cancer Doesn't Care Foundation.

For homeowners across the United States, the message is straightforward: you cannot see or smell radon, so measuring it is the only way to know what is happening in your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can radon levels vary between neighboring homes?

Yes. Homes next to each other can have different radon levels because soil conditions, foundations, construction, and entry pathways vary. Your home's level needs to be measured independently.

2. Does having a basement mean a home has high radon?

Not necessarily. Lower levels may be more likely to have higher radon concentrations because they are closer to the ground, but only testing can determine your home's actual radon concentration.

3. Can radon be present in a newly built home?

Yes. Home age does not determine whether radon is present. Radon can enter through openings that connect a building to the ground, so testing is important regardless of when a home was built.

4. Why should you retest after radon mitigation?

Retesting confirms whether reduction measures worked as intended. Monitoring afterward can also provide useful information about how indoor radon levels behave once mitigation has been completed.

5. Does radon exposure only matter for smokers?

No. Radon is a recognized lung cancer risk for people who have never smoked as well. The CDC recommends that nonsmokers test their homes for radon and reduce high levels.