Home Radon Testing and Lung Cancer Prevention in Canada
Author: Health Canada
Published: 2010/11/30 - Updated: 2026/02/14
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Canada - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This report covers findings from Health Canada's Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, a large-scale government study of approximately 18,000 residences. The information is authoritative because it originates directly from Health Canada and includes statements from the Minister of Health and the Canadian Lung Association. It details how radon gas - a naturally occurring, odorless byproduct of uranium decay - can accumulate in homes through foundation cracks and poses a serious lung cancer risk, being the second leading cause of the disease after smoking. The survey found that roughly 7 percent of Canadian homes exceeded the national guideline of 200 becquerels per cubic metre, which was slightly higher than expected. This is particularly relevant for seniors, people with disabilities, and those who spend extended periods indoors, as prolonged exposure increases health risks. The report also outlines practical steps for obtaining self-test kits and reducing elevated radon levels - Disabled World (DW).
- Topic Definition: Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas, atomic number 86, produced by the decay of radium, which itself derives from the uranium and thorium found in nearly all rocks and soils. It's colorless, odorless, and chemically inert, which makes it insidious - you can't detect it without specialized equipment. Radon seeps out of the ground and typically disperses harmlessly in outdoor air, but it can accumulate to dangerous concentrations inside buildings, particularly in basements and lower floors with poor ventilation. When inhaled, its radioactive decay products lodge in lung tissue and emit alpha particles that damage cells, making radon the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The EPA estimates it's responsible for roughly 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States alone. Testing is straightforward and inexpensive, and mitigation - usually a sub-slab depressurization system that vents the gas from beneath a building's foundation - is effective and well understood.
Introduction
Test Your Home for Radon to Help Prevent Lung Cancer
The Honorable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Mr. Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Levis-Bellechasse, announced the first year results of the Government of Canada's Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes. The results demonstrate the need for Canadians to test their homes for radon.
"The Harper Government is working to keep Canadian families safe from the health risks of radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer," said Minister Aglukkaq. "You can't see it, smell it, or taste it. The only way to know if you have a radon problem is to test your home."
"The first year results of this survey reinforce how important it is for Canadians to test their homes," said Mr. Blaney. "Our Government recommends using long-term test devices for a minimum of three months, in fall, winter and early spring when the windows are closed. If the radon level is high, the problem can be fixed."
"November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Radon is the second leading cause of cancer, after smoking," said Heather Borquez, president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association. "Last year, lung cancer claimed the lives of 20,500 Canadians. It's estimated that about 10 percent of lung cancer deaths are related to long-term exposure to residential radon. We urge Canadians to protect their loved ones by testing their homes for radon."
Main Content
This two-year survey of approximately 18,000 homes, to be completed in 2011, will estimate the number of homes with radon levels above the current Canadian guideline.
Radon gas is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. It can get into homes through foundation cracks and openings and build up to unacceptably high levels. Radon levels vary from house to house depending on a number of factors such as the soil the home is built on, construction and ventilation.
While the radon levels in the vast majority of Canadian homes are below the current Canadian guideline, first-year results of the Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes indicate that approximately 7% of Canadian homes have elevated radon levels - a number that is slightly higher than originally predicted.
Radon self-test kits are available through the internet from radon service providers and at certain hardware stores.
If radon levels in a home are above the Canadian guideline of 200 becquerels/metre3, Health Canada recommends taking steps to reduce the radon level in the home.
The higher the level of radon the sooner action should be taken to address the problem.
Health Canada has an ongoing radon outreach and awareness program that is focused on raising awareness of radon and its potential health risks, and to encouraging radon testing and remediation.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Radon remains one of those rare public health threats that is both invisible and entirely addressable. What makes Health Canada's survey results notable is not just the confirmation that radon is widespread in Canadian homes, but the fact that the percentage of affected homes - around 7 percent - exceeded original estimates. For anyone spending significant time indoors, whether due to age, disability, mobility limitations, or simply the realities of a Canadian winter, this is not abstract risk. It is a direct and measurable one. The good news is that testing is inexpensive, widely available through hardware stores and online radon service providers, and if levels come back above the 200 becquerels per cubic metre guideline, remediation methods are well established. Given that an estimated 10 percent of lung cancer deaths in Canada are tied to residential radon exposure, the simple act of placing a test kit in your home for a few months could be one of the most consequential health decisions a homeowner makes - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Health Canada and published on 2010/11/30, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.