Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces like homes, it can accumulate to high levels. High radon levels can be a risk to the health of you and your family.

Yes. Radon is known to cause cancer in humans. It is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. When radon is inhaled into the lungs, it decays into radioactive particles that emit small bursts of energy. This energy is absorbed by nearby lung tissue, causing damage to lung cells. When cells are damaged, they can lead to cancer. Babies & young kids are the most at risk because they breathe 2-3 times faster than adults.

Every home in Canada has some level of radon; the question is how much. Radon levels can vary widely from one home to another, even on the same street.The only way to find out is to test for radon. The ideal time to test for radon is between September and May. A long-term (3-month) radon test is the most accurate way to find out if you have a dangerous level. Short-term tests are also available, and may be helpful for certain situations, such as real estate transactions. The results of any short-term measurement should be confirmed with a follow-up long-term measurement, at the same location within the home, to inform decisions about mitigation.

Testing for radon is simple. Enspeco offers two options for testing.

Option 1: To know the concentration of radon in your home without having a member of the Enspeco team visit your home, we suggest the AccuStar Alpha-Track AT-100 test kit.

Option 2: Our radon specialists use a E-PERM testing kit, which is about the size of a cell phone, and install it in the lowest level of your home, away from any airflow. Then, the specialist comes back to pick up the kit, interprets the results and provides you with a report showing the amount of radon in your home, measured in Becquerels (Bq) and the action you should take, if any. With a short-term test you should expect results in 5 to 10 days, whereas long-term tests are installed for 90 days or more.

Canadian guidelines suggest that actions should be taken to reduce the radon concentration following a long-term test for any level above 200 Bq/m3. If your test results show radon levels over this amount, you should install a radon mitigation system. A radon mitigation system can be installed within the timeframe of one work day and involves installing a pipe through the concrete floor in the basement and installing a fan. The fan draws radon from the ground and expels it through a pipe vented to the outside of your house.

Evic Radon is a national study and organization founded by Canadian scientists using an interdisciplinary approach to understand and prevent Canadian radon exposure. Learn more about the Radon-Exposure-Calculator

For the past fifteen years, the Quebec Lung Association has been collecting radon measurement results from tens of thousands of Quebecers.

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that Canadians test their homes for radon and take action to reduce high levels.

Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of cancer depends on the level of radon and how long a person is exposed to those levels.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. It is also the leading cause of cancer in non-smokers. In Québec, 10 to 16% of lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon. This represents over 1000 deaths each year.

Access the summary version of the scientific report “Radon in Quebec – evaluation of the health risk and critical analysis of intervention strategies”.

Take Action on Radon is a national initiative, funded by Health Canada, to bring together radon stakeholders and raise awareness on radon across Canada.