Indoor Radon in New Mexico: A Review of Uranium-Series Sources, Measurement and Monitoring Gaps, and Pathways to Equitable Exposure Reduction

Radon-222, a decay product of the uranium-238 series, is the principal source of natural ionizing-radiation exposure in most indoor environments and an established cause of lung cancer. In New Mexico, uranium-bearing geology, a legacy of uranium mining and milling, and arid, variably constructed housing create elevated but poorly characterized geogenic radon potential. This evidence-informed narrative review examines radon protection in New Mexico by synthesizing the radiological basis of the hazard (uranium-series sources, radium-226 emanation, and soil–gas transport into buildings) with measurement, monitoring, and mapping evidence relevant to under-resourced regions. We emphasize that representative, high-resolution indoor radon measurements for the state are still lacking. We show that the central challenge is not only geologic potential but the uneven distribution of measurement, testing, and mitigation capacity across housing type, tenure, geography, and jurisdiction, including Tribal lands governed by consent-based data agreements. We evaluate monitoring and outreach interventions by evidence strength and outline a phased, standards-based program (statewide measurement and data systems, high-resolution mapping, school and rental testing, workforce development, and mitigation support) to convert radiological knowledge into measurable, equitable exposure reduction. New Mexico serves as a well-documented representative example; the synthesis is intended to inform other rural, Tribal, and under-resourced jurisdictions.