How radon enters your home (and what you can do about it)
Radon is a colourless, odourless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It’s radioactive, it’s found in every region in Canada, and it’s harmless when you’re outside.
Indoors, it’s another story.
Radon can enter a home through tiny openings in floors, drains, and cracks and crevices in foundations. Inside, it builds up to dangerous levels. Over time, radon exposure increases our risk of developing lung cancer. Long-term exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, and the leading cause in Canadians who have had a limited tobacco smoking history or have never smoked.
There are many factors that can contribute unsafe levels of radon exposure in your home. Some of these factors include the features of our built environments, including indoor wells, energy efficient retrofits that make homes more airtight, and unbalanced HVAC systems that draw gases in through the foundation.
Explore the Lung Health Foundation’s radon awareness tips and take action if your levels are high!
Radon
in
Canada
Did you know that Canada’s radon exposure levels are among the highest in the world?
During Take Action on Radon Month 2024, the Evict Radon National Study’s 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities highlighted that nearly 18% of Canadian homes exceed the safe radon exposure threshold as advised by Health Canada.
Health Canada currently advises that homes with radon levels at or exceeding 200 Bq/m³ should take action to reduce radon levels. Testing is the only way to know your specific home’s radon level!
Radon in your region
Where you live geographically is one of the many factors that determines how much radon you’re exposed to, since radon comes from the ground.
These figures come from the Evict Radon National Study’s 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities. While the only way to know about your specific home’s radon levels is to test, you may be wondering about the odds of finding high radon levels in your area.
- One in five Canadian residential buildings are at or above 200 Bq/m³
- One in three Atlantic properties are at or above 200 Bq/m³
- One in six Central properties are at or above 200 Bq/m³
- One in five Prairie and Northwest Territory properties are at or above 200 Bq/m³
- One in three Pacific Interior and Yukon Territory properties are at or above 200 Bq/m³
- One in 75 Pacific Coastal Canadian properties are at or above 200 Bq/m³
Lung Health Foundation's Radon Action Advice
As leaders in lung cancer awareness, the Lung Health Foundation urges all Canadians to reduce their lifetime lung cancer risk by taking the following action:
- Test your home: You can test your home by purchasing an at-cost test kit through the Evict Radon National Study. This will not only identify your personal risk, but also help contribute to a better understanding of radon exposure in Canada. The Evict Radon National Study is a non-profit organization supported by peer-reviewed competitive grants from multiple Canadian agencies. They distribute radon test kits at cost and do not take a profit from any kits sold. Order yours here.
- Mitigate your home: If your radon levels test high, the next step is professional mitigation. You can find a licensed mitigator here. There are also programs in place to provide financial support for mitigation here.
- Spread awareness about radon and its link to lung cancer.
We can all play a role in radon safety!
Healthcare professionals
Health professionals are in a unique position to help reduce the risk of radon-related lung cancer. Health Professionals can find educational and public awareness content at Radon Resources for Health Professionals – Take Action on Radon
Radon in your workplace
We spend a significant portion of our time at work. The health and safety of our workspace is important. You can find more detailed information about occupational exposure to Radon here: Radon – Occupational Exposures – CAREX Canada
Radon in our schools
Given that children and staff spend a considerable amount of time indoors in schools – where radon levels can accumulate to high levels – CAREX Canada (CARcinogen Exposure), a dedicated team of researchers and specialists with expertise in epidemiology, exposure assessment, spatial analysis, health policy, and knowledge mobilization, has prioritized radon exposure in Canadian schools. Read more:
Radon in schools: A summary of testing efforts across Canada – CAREX Canada
It's your turn to spread radon awareness:
Did you know that in 2021, only 56% of Canadian households reported that they had heard of radon? And that only 9% of non-apartment households that had heard of radon had tested for it?
Here’s your chance to spread some radon awareness and teach someone about radon’s link to lung cancer. It could save a life!