Protect your health. Test your home.

Region of Waterloo Public Health is recommending that residents take preventative measures and test their dwellings for radon gas.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released from soil. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it becomes diluted to low concentrations and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces (such as a home), radon can sometimes accumulate to elevated levels, which can present a health risk with long-term exposure.

Long-term exposure to high radon levels can increase the risk of lung cancer. This risk is elevated even further among smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke. Indoor exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is estimated to cause approximately 16% of lung cancers in Canada.

Age and location of a home cannot be used to predict radon levels and both new and older construction can contain indoor air radon at varying levels. Radon can enter the home through cracks in the foundation and other places where the house is open to the ground. “The only way to know whether a home has an elevated level of radon is to test for it”, says Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Associate Medical Officer of Health.

Health Canada recommends testing for a minimum of three months, ideally between the months of November and April because windows and doors are typically kept closed and that is when indoor air levels of radon would be expected to be highest. A radon test should be performed in the lowest lived-in level of your home where you spend more than four hours per day.

If your home tests above Health Canada’s guideline of 200 Bq/m3, Region of Waterloo Public Health recommends that measures be taken to lower the amount of radon entering your home, and that that a certified radon mitigation professional be consulted for home remediation options. Region of Waterloo Public Health provides guidance on how to test your home for radon and how to find a certified radon mitigation professional if needed. Visit us at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/radon to find out more.

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Media Contact: Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo Public Health, 519-883-2278.