Radon Action Month - test for radon gas in your home

Radon Action Month – Test for Radon Gas to Protect Your Home and Family

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November is Radon Action Month in Canada. It’s a great time to start your home radon test!

Radon gas is an odourless, colourless, radioactive gas found in homes across all of Canada. You might be surprised to learn that Radon exposure is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In fact, November is the month that the Government of Canada observes Lung Cancer Awareness Month and National Radon Action Month to help remind Canadians that both lifestyle choices and environmental factors can impact the health of our lungs.

Exposure to high levels of the radioactive gas in indoor air results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Of course, the risk of cancer depends on the Radon levels and how long a person is exposed.

What is Radon Gas?

Radon gas is an odourless, colourless radioactive gas that occurs naturally. It’s created by the natural breakdown of uranium. Radon is found in soil, igneous rock, and in some cases, well water. It makes its way up through the ground and into your house through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

A recent survey identified that Radon levels vary significantly across the country, but there are regions more prone to high levels of indoor Radon. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the Yukon showed the highest percentages of participant homes that tested above the radon guideline. But, just because we don’t live in one of the provinces listed, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t test. Radon in dangerous levels exists in nearly all regions of Canada.

Inhaling Radon exposes lung tissue to ionizing radiation which causes damage to the DNA in lung tissue. It can lead to lung cancer. In fact, over 3,200 Canadian lung cancer deaths each year can be attributed to Radon exposure.

Testing is the only way to know if Radon gas is in your home

As Radon gas has no smell or colour, you must conduct a test to detect it. Easy and largely effortless, a Radon test can protect your home and family. And it’s a pretty simple process.
First, purchase a DIY Radon test kit. Because radon levels can vary from day to day and from season to season, testing can be done in the short-term (two to 90 days) or long-term (greater than three months). Keep in mind that long-term tests offer better information about a home’s average year-round radon levels.
Follow the instructions included in your test packet. Radon test devices should be placed in the lowest occupied level of your home.
After letting the test sit in your basement for the required amount of time, send it away for the results. Alternatively, if you’d like, you can invite a professional Radon measurement specialist to conduct a Radon test in your home.

What to do if you test positive for Radon gas?

If the test comes back and your home is found to have a high level of Radon, mitigation is the next step to bring down the level or eliminate any Radon. A certified Radon mitigation specialist can analyze your home install and initiate radon mitigation. The system will draw the gas out of your house and expel it safely into the outdoors.
To ensure the health and safety of your home, testing for Radon is easy and inexpensive. And November is a perfect time! Now that you’ve closed up your home against the impending Canadian winter, you can conduct a more accurate test than in warmer seasons.