Air quality in your home
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Initiatives - Radon
Radon Q and A
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring colourless, odourless, radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rocks. When radon is released from the ground and into the outdoor air, it becomes diluted and does not pose a concern. However, radon can accumulate in high levels within enclosed spaces and can become a health risk to you and your family.
What are the health effects of radon?
Exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air results in increased risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. The risk exists for both smokers and non-smokers; however, malignancy from radon exposure is more likely to occur in cigarette smokers.
Radon gas breaks down to form radioactive elements which, if inhaled, can become deeply lodged in the lungs. These elements emit ionizing radiation that penetrates the cells of the mucous membranes, bronchi, and other lung tissues, thereby damaging the lung cells. When cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce.
How can radon get into my home?
The air pressure inside your home is usually lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressure draws air and other gases, including radon, from the soil into your home.
Radon can enter a home through openings where the house contacts the soils, such as cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.
What are the radon levels in Canada?
Since radon occurs naturally in soil, it is found across Canada but concentrations differ greatly. Radon levels are usually higher in areas where there is a higher amount of uranium in underlying rock and soil. Some amount of radon is found in every home, but levels will vary from one house to another even if they are similar and next door to each other.
What is the current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air?
The current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3). A Becquerel means one radioactive disintegration per second.
Health Canada has lowered the Canadian guideline for indoor exposure to radon from 800 Bq/m3 to the current 200 Bq/m3 based on new information which indicates that the health risk of radon-induced lung cancer occurs at lower levels of exposure than previously thought.
How do I test my home for radon?
Testing for radon in your home is easy and inexpensive. There are different types of devices that can be used to test for radon. Short term radon test devices are typically used for a 2 to 7 day period of time, while long term radon test devices are used for 3 to 12 months. Since the radon concentration inside a home varies over time, Health Canada recommends that homes be tested for a minimum of 3 months (ideally between October and April). Measurements gathered over a longer period of time will give a much better indication of the annual average radon concentration.
When testing for radon, place the radon detector in the lowest lived-in level of your home that is used or occupied for more than 4 hours a day (e.g., basement with a rec room, the ground floor, etc.). The preferred location for the device is by an interior wall at least 0.8m (3 ft) off the floor, at least 50cm (20in) from the ceiling, and 20cm (8in) from other objects.
Where can I get Radon Test Kits?
Radon test devices are available here at the BC Lung Association office. Contact 604-731-5864 (toll-free 1-800-665-5864) or e-mail info@bc.lung.ca to place your order. We will mail you the test kit with instructions on how to set up the device and send it back to a lab for analysis. The cost of the test kit is $30.00.
Test kits can also be purchased for $30 at the Northern Health Public Health Protection office in Prince George (4th floor, 1600 3rd Ave). They will also be available in other Northern Health offices across the North in the coming months. Contact (250) 565-2150 or radon@northernhealth.ca to purchase a test kit or obtain more information on retail locations.
Alternatively, radon test devices are available at select Home Hardware and Walmart locations, as well as at all Home Depot stores throughout British Columbia. Prices and types vary.
How can I reduce the amount of radon in my home?
If your radon test result is above the guideline of 200 Bq/m3, you can take the following steps to help reduce the level of radon:
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Increase mechanical ventilation to allow an exchange of air.
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Seal all cracks and openings in foundation walls and floors, and around pipes and drains.
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Paint basement floors and foundation walls with two coats of paint and a sealant.
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Ventilate the basement sub-flooring by installing a small pump to draw the radon from below the concrete slab to the outside before it can enter your home.
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Renovate existing basement floors, particularly earth floors.