Radon: Understanding the Risks and Mitigation in Your Home

The breakdown of uranium in soil and rock produces radon, a radioactive gas. It has no colour, flavour, or scent. Since it is diluted when it is released from the ground into the outside air, radon is not a danger. However, it can build up to excessive levels and endanger the health of you and your family in enclosed environments like homes.

When radon gas decomposes, radioactive substances are created that can be absorbed into the lungs. Radon continues to break down in the lungs, producing radioactive particles that give off brief bursts of energy. Nearby lung tissue absorbs this energy, harming the lung cells. When cells are harmed, their subsequent reproduction could lead to cancer.

DID YOU KNOW?

The main factor causing lung cancer in non-smokers is radon. Lung cancer risk is enhanced when individuals are exposed to high amounts of radon in indoor air. The amount of radon present and the duration of exposure determine the risk of developing cancer.

How does it get in my house?

Typically, the air pressure inside your home is lower than that of the soil around its base. As a result of this pressure difference, radon, and other gases are drawn into your home from the soil.

Any entrance where the house comes into contact with the ground, such as cracks in the foundation’s floor and walls, construction joints, spaces around service pipes, support posts, window casings, floor drains, sumps, or cavities inside walls, can be used by radon to enter a home.

What Should I Do?

No matter where you reside, it is crucial to test radon levels because there is no other way to determine how much radon is present in your home. Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive. It can be done by purchasing a do-it-yourself kit or by a professional that is certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP).

Radon levels in a home can vary significantly over time so to do a lit is recommended to do a long-term test, for 3 months, ideally during the fall or winter time.

How Do I Know If My Location Has High Levels or Not?

Because of the local geology, radon exposure is more common in some parts of Nova Scotia than others. The Department of Natural Resources’ radon risk map for Nova Scotia displays regions with high, medium, and low risk.

According to test results, 40% of buildings in high-risk locations had radon levels above recommended levels. In low-risk locations, 5% of structures exceed the limit, while 14% of buildings in medium-risk areas do so. According to these findings, residences in low-risk zones should also be checked.

What Level is Consider Bad?

Every home will have Radon. It becomes a concern when these levels exceed the guidelines. The current Canadian guideline for radon is 200 becquerels per cubic meter (200 Bq/m3).

Where Can I Get a Test?

You can locate tests here

You can also hire a C-NRPP Certified Professional for radon testing and mitigation.

Find one here

Hello there! I’m Alisha Caillie-Fleet, a seasoned Real Estate Agent located in Halifax. With a sales history dating back to 2014 across Nova Scotia and Ontario, I bring a wealth of expertise to the table. My specialization includes residential properties, investment opportunities, and military relocations. I’ve wholeheartedly committed myself to honing my skills to ensure that your experience of buying or selling a home is seamless and free of stress.

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