What is Radon?
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is invisible odorless and tasteless. It is formed from the decay of uranium in the ground. Uranium is a common element found in the earth’s crust and radon is one of the elements formed its breakdown. Radon filters up from the ground into buildings in contact with the soil around the foundation. In the natural environment, radon levels are very low. Inside buildings however, radon gas can accumulate to levels harmful to your health. Radon levels tend to be higher in the wintertime and lower in the summertime, which is why long-term testing is best done during the months of September to April.
Radon in my home …
Radon gas accumulates in your home due to the movement of radon gas from the rocks and earth’s crust below your home and from the soil in contact with your home. Radon gas freely moves through the soil and into your home through cracks in the foundation, entry points for pipes, windows, sump pump and water through your well.
Health Canada has determined that long term exposure to radon levels is measured at 200 becquerels per cubic metre (bq/m3) where one becquerel is one radioactive disintegration per second. The Canadian guideline is based on a 70-year exposure period spent in a home that contains elevated levels of radon 75% of that time.
Long term exposure to elevated levels of radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in Canada (behind smoking) and is attributed to over 3200 deaths a year in Canada. Levels of radon can be lowered to well below levels considered harmful to your health with radon mitigation techniques.
Radon gas breaks down into radioactive elements which can be inhaled into the lungs. The alpha rays from radioactive decay of radon continue to break down in the lungs causing damage to the cells inside the lungs. The long-term health effects are determined by the levels of radon they are exposed to and how long a person is exposed to them. The risks of lung cancer increase dramatically for a person who is a smoker. A smoker who is exposed to elevated levels of radon has a 1 in 3 chance of developing lung cancer, a non-smoker in the same situation has a 1 in 20 chance of developing lung cancer.