Radon is an odourless, tasteless, colourless that can be found in your home without you even realizing it. It can also have long-term health impacts.
According to Kristin Carroll, a representative with Health Canada, radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers across Canada, and a national awareness program is encouraging people to get their homes tested for the gas.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas, formed from the breakdown of uranium in the ground which can enter homes through foundation cracks.
"Uranium can be found all across Canada," said Carroll. "As it breaks down, radon can enter the home through any cracks or gaps in the floor."
If radon off-gases outside, it is not a health concern, as it will just dilute into the air.
The current recommendation from Health Canada is to get a test kit and do a long-duration, three-month, test to see if the gas is in your home, and if it is, to get remediation.
According to Carroll, test kits can be found through a variety of online sources for around $60, though Parkland Regional Library System has a home-screening kit that can be borrowed from your local library.
If a test shows high levels of radon in the home, remediation will involve a contractor digging venting under the foundation of your home to allow the gases to vent to the outside. Carroll says that the cost of remediation can cost between $3-4,000, though the cost is going to vary depending on the size of the home.
Carroll also notes that in the short term, radon is not problematic, it is primarily with longer-term exposure that someone's risk of developing lung cancer increases.
"The longer you're exposed, the higher your risk is," said Carroll.
"Radon is a health concern, and we do want people to be testing their homes to try and prevent that lung cancer risk."
According to Carroll, about one in six Canadian homes can be affected by radon exposure and the age of a home doesn't necessarily play a factor in whether or not it will be an issue.
Health Canada has been running its national radon program since 2008.
For more information, check out the Health Canada website at canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon.html.
