When Kayla Dion bought her home in Maine-her first ever, she was excited: she was in a beautiful area, with easy access to work, and plenty of room for her children to grow, flourish and thrive. She expected the usual challenges of homeownership: the utilities to set up, the boxes to unpack, the household fixes here and there. What she didn’t expect was the discovery that her home, her refuge for herself and family contained dangerous levels of radon.
Kayla had never heard of radon, and she didn’t realize just how common this serious health risk is. Maine has some of the highest radon levels in the country: average test results in Maine are 290% above national averages. Yet no one told her about it, not her realtor, friends and family or even the well water company. As a medical professional that works in the healthcare field- it was not standard screening that she had encountered in her over 15 years of healthcare work history. She only learned about radon and its risks when searching the internet for the possible cause of respiratory symptoms during COVID. “I can be a bit of hypochondriac Mom, but of course with the intention that knowledge is power” says Kayla. “Once I learned there was the possibility of a lung cancer causing gas in my home that I couldn’t see, smell, or taste, it made me alarmingly aware of the invisible health risk, I became more proactive to find a solution.”
Kayla immediately had both her indoor air and well water tested for radon. Her radon in air test came back at 68 pCi/L, her radon in water level exceeded 10,000 pCi/L. Both of these numbers are way over the EPA action levels of 4.0 pCi/L for air and 4,000 pCi/L for water. She knew she would have to fix both to protect her family.
Bad things happen in threes…
Just as Kayla was discovering the presence of radon in both her air and well water, she was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension, a condition that requires ongoing spinal taps and treatment to relieve the pressure from excess spinal fluid building up in her brain and prevent long-term damage, including the risk of losing her sight from the pressure and possibly becoming blind. Suddenly, Kayla was facing a significant reduced schedule in her work hours as a pediatric medical assistant, leading to tight finances, increased healthcare costs, and the daily realities of trying to not only maintain her family and household but also give her children the ability to grow up in a healthy environment. Kayla had to choose between the daily necessities of housing, food, clothing, and caring for her family or fixing the radon problem in her home. “I had to put the radon problem on the back burner,” said Kayla. I had the quote, and the reality of the financial strain was too much to afford. “I had no ability to pay for it, even with all the support I received from my community, my family, and my co-workers. But I never stopped worrying about it- it was on my mind every day. I called everyone I could come across and it was hard to even speak to an actual person. Every lead was a dead end.
Eventually I was able to get in contact the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. I am so grateful and appreciative to the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. During the very first phone conversation, before I even knew if they could help me, they gave me a sense of hope.”
A Health Issue Too Many Maine Families Face Alone
Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Only smoking causes more lung cancer than radon. Radon has no smell, no color, and no symptoms until years later, when its long-term exposure has already harmed your health. There’s no medical test currently to test people for exposure. The only way to test is through water and air testing. It’s why the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council raises money through its annual Indoor Insanity 5k event to help pay for fixing problems in low-income Maine homes. Thanks to the generous support of donors and participants, the Council was able to step in and provide the support needed to install radon in air and radon in water treatment systems in Kayla’s home, thus removing the risk to Kayla and her young family.
True Grit
For Kayla, learning about radon wasn’t just a homeowner’s inconvenience. It was an emotional and financial burden layered on top of already difficult circumstances. The idea that the air and water in her own home could be harming her family was overwhelming.
But what stands out in Kayla’s story is not the hardship—it’s her determination.
She asked questions. She sought help. She took steps to make her home safe. And now she’s beginning to share her experience publicly, with the hope she can help someone else avoid the same situation she went through.
“It’s one thing to hear statistics,” she said, “but it’s different when you realize it’s not only around you- it’s in your home. Families right here in Maine are dealing with this every day.”
Her courage in sharing her story is already making an impact. By putting a face and a family behind the issue, Kayla is helping people realize that radon is not just a home inspection checkbox; it’s a serious public health issue that deserves attention, conversation, and action.
Why Kayla Wants You to Test Your Home
Kayla’s message is simple: test your home. Whether you rent, own, or are planning to buy, radon testing is inexpensive, easy, and could save your life.
And for families who discover a radon problem, Kayla wants them to know it’s fixable. Professional help and guidance do exist. Community support exists. And speaking up like she’s doing could someday prevent lung cancer in not just her household, but so many here in Maine.
Her story is a reminder that safe homes are essential homes. And with community awareness, strong partnerships, and open conversations, we can ensure fewer Maine families face the invisible danger that caught Kayla by surprise.
