SIMCOE MUSKOKA – November is Radon Action Month in Canada. Radon is an invisible, colourless and odourless radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down and can enter your home unnoticed, posing a risk to your health.
SIMCOE MUSKOKA – November is Radon Action Month in Canada. Radon is an invisible, colourless and odourless radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down and can enter your home unnoticed, posing a risk to your health. Because homes are typically more tightly sealed during colder months, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is encouraging residents to test their homes for radon, regardless of their home’s age, size or location.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, causing nearly 16 percent of lung cancer deaths annually, or about 850 lung cancer deaths each year in Ontario. The gas is naturally found in the environment and can enter your home through cracks in foundation walls, gaps around pipes, drains and sump pumps, often undetected.
Long-term exposure to radon can increase the risk of lung cancer depending on the amount of radon present, the length of time you are exposed to it and whether you smoke. Smoking, combined with radon exposure, significantly increases your risk of developing lung cancer.
Testing your home for radon is simple and can be done with a do-it-yourself kit. Several local libraries have free digital radon detectors that can be borrowed from participating locations. These digital radon detectors can be used for short-term screening and can help identify whether radon may be present in your home. If the screening results show elevated radon levels, doing a long-term test is recommended.
You can also find information about where to purchase a Health Canada-approved test kit and how to use it at Take Action on Radon or by contacting a certified radon professional.
The Health Canada guideline for radon is 200 Bq/m3. If testing shows levels above this guideline, steps should be taken to reduce radon exposure. Long-term testing provides the most accurate estimate of the average radon level in a home.
If you detect higher levels of radon in your home, contact a certified radon professional to help you reduce those levels. The presence of radon is a warrantable defect under the Ontario New Home Warranty and Protection Plan for homes that are seven years old or less. Homes older than seven years may be eligible for home radon mitigation support through the Canadian Lung Association.
For more information about radon, visit smdhu.org/radon.
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