November is Radon Action Month and Lung Cancer Awareness Month — a perfect time to talk about a silent but serious threat: radon.
As Canada’s leading lung health charity, we’re dedicated to helping you breathe easier. Here are five key things everyone should know about radon — and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.
1. Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in people who do not a history of smoking.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It’s invisible, odourless, and tasteless — which means the only way to know if it’s in your home is to test for it.
Long-term exposure to high levels of radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who do not smoke, and the second leading cause overall in Canada. People who smoke who are also exposed to radon are at an even greater risk of lung cancer.
Learn more about radon and lung cancer from Health Canada.
2. Every home in Canada has some level of radon.
In Evict Radon’s Cross-Canada Radon Survey report, you can view graphics like this, which summarize the average radon levels across Canada:
But how much is in your home is a mystery until you test!
Radon is everywhere — but some homes have much higher levels than others, depending on factors like your region’s geology and your home’s ventilation. Even your neighbours’ homes may test at different levels than your own, which is why it’s great news that testing is simple and affordable.
3. It’s the perfect time of year to test your home – but buyer beware.
Radon test kits are small, inexpensive devices you place in your home for about three months — ideally during the heating season when windows are closed. Once you send the kit to a lab, you’ll get a detailed report of your home’s radon level. If your result is above Health Canada’s guideline of 200 Bq/m³, you should take action to lower it.
IMPORTANT! Not all test kits are created equal! Some commonly available kits have even been subject to a recall. To get a testing kit you can trust, the Lung Health Foundation recommends purchasing a kit from one of the local suppliers listed by Take Action on Radon (a national initiative funded by Health Canada) or from the Evict Radon National Study (and become a “Citizen Scientist” by sharing your results with their research team!)
4. Reducing radon is straightforward.
If your radon levels are high, don’t panic. Certified professionals can install a radon mitigation system — often in a single day — that can reduce levels by up to 90%.
Visit Take Action on Radon to find step-by-step guides, certified mitigators, and local initiatives to help you get started.
5. We’re advocating for a Healthy Homes Tax Credit to make this all a bit easier.
The Lung Health Foundation, along with the National Lung Health Alliance, is actively advocating for the federal government to create a Healthy Homes Tax Credit providing up to $5,000 in support for Canadians to test and mitigate their homes for radon and up to $2,000 to purchase HEPA air filtration units and make retrofits to their homes to improve overall indoor air quality. If you’d like to advocate for a Healthy Home Tax credit to your own Member of Parliament, contact our Public Affairs team!
This Radon Action Month — and Lung Cancer Awareness Month — let’s work together for lung cancer prevention and safer air in every Canadian home.
The bottom line? Breathe easy. Test your home. Take action.
