FAQs

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive soil gas that when inhaled can cause lung cancer. For more information, please visit our About Radon page.

Radon is created from the breakdown of trace amounts of Uranium breaking down through its decay chain. This Uranium has been spread across North America by the glaciers from the last few ice ages scraping the bedrock up and depositing it everywhere. For more information, please visit our About Radon page.

Every house has some level of radon. The question is how much is present. The only way to detect Radon is with specialised testing devices. It's odourless, colourless, and present at such low concentrations that if it wasn't radioactive, we couldn't detect it.

Everyone is at risk. Radon is a naturally occurring soil gas, meaning it's present in nature, but it can build up to dangerous levels inside of buildings. It doesn't matter if the buildings are built on the ground or if they are raised above ground such as on posts like some areas in Florida have, they can still test positive for Radon.

Take Action on Radon pamphlet says 200 Bq = 2% non smoker, 17% smoker.

The dangerous alpha particle that is created when Radon radioactively decays is very different from the gamma particle radiation that most people are familiar with. While concrete or lead is required to shield the body from gamma particles, alpha particles require little more than a sheet of thick paper to be effectively blocked. This is why Radon does not cause skin cancer, as our protective layer of dead skin cells are effective at blocking it. However, when we inhale Radon, the inside of our lungs have no such protection, and the cells there can receive the full, devastating effect of these alpha particles.

There are currently no other health effects confirmed to be caused by Radon, but several other cancers have been linked, but not confirmed. These include brain cancer, childhood leukemia, throat, and stomach cancers.

In simple terms, there is less pressure inside the house than there is in the soil. Thus the soil gas that contains Radon will find any openings it can, and seep in through tiny cracks or openings.

The average Radon level in Ontario is 83.3 Bq/m³.

The Canada wide average is approximately 1 in 7 homes (~14%), but some of the more recent testing has shown that Ontario is much closer to 1 in 5 (~22%) homes being above 200.

No. It is virtually impossible to completely eliminate Radon, which is why one of the Radon industry’s principles is "ALARA" or "As Low As Reasonably Achievable."

Newer, tighter, or remodelled homes are more likely to have elevated levels of Radon as they capture both heat and Radon better. If you have large openings through the slab, such as open sump pits, floor drains that go to the dirt, or well water lines that have been fed through a large pipe, those can contribute Radon into the house.

We strongly consider anything over 200 Bq/m³ be mitigated, and anything between 100 Bq/m³ be considered for mitigation as the Health Canada action level is 200 Bq/m³, and the World Health Organization's action level is 100 Bq/m³. However, it is ultimately a decision you will make as you will need to determine what level of radiation from Radon you're comfortable with in your home.

If you are worried about the results of exposure to Radon, then informing your family doctor is your best bet to ensure that you stay healthy. Many factors go into determining if you are at risk for lung cancer, and your doctor is the best person to understand and plan any actions moving forward.