Reduce the risk of the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Being exposed long-term to high levels of radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon is present in almost every home and building. To find out the level of radon in your home, or any indoor space, you have to test for it.
How do you test your home for radon?
Testing your home for radon is easy.
- Purchase a long-term radon test kit (average $30 – $50), install it on the lowest occupied level of your home during fall and winter, and leave it there for at least three months. Or, hire a certified radon professional to help you test.
- At the end of three months, send the radon test kit to the laboratory address included with the kit. The laboratory will send a report back to you with your radon levels.
What can you do if your radon levels are above the guideline?
If your levels are above the Health Canada guideline of 200 bequerels per cubic metre of air (a bequerel is a measure of radioactive decay), you should take action to reduce the amount of radon in your home. A radon professional can offer options for what to do next, such as the following:
- Hire a certified radon contractor to install an Active Sub-Slab Depressurization system, which is a small exhaust fan that draws the radon from below the concrete floor slab and vents it through a pipe to the outdoors. This is the solution that is likely to be most effective in reducing radon to acceptable levels.
- Increase the ventilation in your home by hiring a contractor to install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or by optimizing the use of an existing ventilation system.
- Seal all cracks and openings in foundation walls and floors.
The higher the level of radon, the sooner you should take action.
What else can you do?
Do not allow anyone to smoke inside your home. Exposure to cigarette smoke combined with high radon levels significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. A person who has had long-term exposure to high radon levels has a 1 in 20 chance of developing lung cancer. When combined with exposure to cigarette smoke, the risk of developing lung cancer increases to 1 in 3.
Need more information?
- Where to purchase a radon test kit
- To find a radon professional in your area: Take Action on Radon and Canadian – National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP)
Resources
Home Safety for your Kids’ Sake mini-poster – Valentine’s Day version
English
French
Radon Testing for your Kids’ Sake
March 2015
Mini-poster
Home Safety for your KIDS’ sake mini-poster
February 12, 2014
Mini-poster
English
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Reduce Radon
February 2013
Tip card
Health Canada Publications
- Radon: Is it in Your Home? A guide to protecting your family from radon in your home.
- Radon: Is it in Your Home? Information for Health Professionals. A guide to help health professionals answer their patients questions about radon.
- Radon – Another Reason to Quit. A factsheet about the increased risk for smokers who are also exposed to radon gas and actions that can be taken to reduce the risk.
- Guide for Radon Measurements in Public Buildings (Schools, Hospitals, Care Facilities, Detention Centres)
- Reducing Radon Levels in Existing Homes: A Canadian Guide for Professional Contractors. A guide to provide professional building contractors with information on radon mitigation techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)