What is radon?
Radon is an invisible, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is found naturally in soil and rock from the breakdown of uranium.
High levels of radon found indoors can be a health risk to you and your family.
Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can lead to lung cancer making it the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking) overall.
There is no evidence that radon exposure causes respiratory diseases such as asthma, or symptoms such as persistent coughing or headaches.
Why does this matter in Alberta?
A recent Canadian survey on radon and indoor air quality reported that Albertans are the least likely to know about radon. Donate today to help The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT spread awareness about radon.
What can you do?
It's simple. The only way to know if you have high radon is to test.
The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT recommends testing for three months with a long-term radon test kit.
You can purchase a test kit from The Lung Association for $34.99 + $11.95 (shipping). This includes the test kit, the associated instructions for use, and the laboratory testing fees. To purchase a radon test kit click here or call 1-888-566-LUNG (5864).
How to test?
We recommend that you place the radon test kit in the lowest level of a home (such as a basement or main floor) for a period of three months where it will not be disturbed.
After three months, collect the detector and mail it to a laboratory for analysis and results.
My home has high radon levels. What do I do?
If your home has high radon levels (200 Becquerels per cubic metre is the Canadian radon guideline), The Lung Association suggests you contact a certified radon mitigator.
A certified radon mitigator is a contractor or individual who is trained to fix your home and lower the amount of radon indoors.
Click here to find a certified radon mitigation expert near you.
More useful tools to find out more about radon.
Visit Health Canada or call 1-800-622-6232
Visit The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT's clean air resource centre for other downloadable resources about radon.
Additional Links - Home Industry Professionals
Visit the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation website to learn more about radon mitigation.
Health Canada provides a radon reduction guide for professional contractors.
A NEW Health Canada document titled Radon Reducation Guide for Canadians is now available.
The Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists website is a great place to find information on radon in general, as well as measurement and mitigation.
If you are a mitigator interested in becoming certified, please refer to the new Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program.
Radon-Related Health Professional Resources - See links on "Clean Air Resources for Health Professionals" webpage