It’s a colourless, odourless gas, and its radioactive. It’s emitted by the breakdown of uranium in soil, and because it’s a gas, seeps upward through the ground.
While it’s natural, and is diffused in the air and wind to completely safe levels, when it seeps through the foundation into your house it can accumulate to dangerous levels.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in Canada among non-smokers
It’s estimated that radioactive radon gas, causing cancers, especially lung cancers, kills about 3,000 Canadians a year. And because you can’t see or smell it, you are likely to be completely unaware of it in your home.
Mandatory testing considered in 2007, but later abandoned
Health Canada conducted a two-year study involving 14,000 homes across the country and found that 10% had radon levels above their recommended limit of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3).
The World Health Organization recommended limit is 100Bq/m3. Using that guideline some 30% of Canadian homes woul be of concern.
According to the WHO, the risk of lung cancer increases by 16 per cent per 100 Bq/m3 increase in radon concentration.
In several cases the Health Canada testing showed radon levels above 1000Bq/m3
In 2007, Health Canada was considering mandatory testing of homes for all real-estate transactions, but later abandoned the proposal due to “industry concerns” such as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
There is at present no legal requirement for radon testing of homes in Canada, nor is there any requirement for testing in public buildings such as schools.
In other jurisdictions there are rules.
In the UK home sellers must provide a radon statement to buyers, and landlords must have assessments done on properties in radon affected areas.
Ireland invited all schools in the free education system to be tested between 1998 and 2002. Some 3,444 schools and offices were examined and any with readings over 200Bq/m3 were successfully modified.
Last year, the US state of Illinois mandated that all licensed daycare centres and homes be tested and for licence renewal or new applications, they must show they have been tested within the past three years.
Province of Saskatchewan guidelines for contractors on reducing radon
Government of Canada site on radon
(with files from CBC)
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