What is radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless.
Radon exposure is the #1 CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER in non-smokers. Exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of cancer depends on the level of radon and how long a person is exposed to those levels.
RADON LEVELS IN CANADA
All homes in Canada have radon gas in them. Concentrations differ greatly across the country, but are usually higher in areas where there is a higher amount of uranium in underlying rock and soil.
Manitoba has had higher radon values in buildings than national averages. Health Canada has estimated that more than 19% of Manitobans are living in homes above the radon guideline of 200Bq/m3.
How can radon get into my home
Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house is in contact with the ground: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.
TESTING YOUR HOME IS
THE ONLY WAY TO DETECT RADON
No matter the age, type of construction or where your home is located, the only way to be sure of the radon level in your home is to test.
HOW DO I TEST MY HOME FOR RADON
Option1 # Purchase a do-it-yourself radon test device.
* Make sure you have enough knowledge and strictly follow instructions to run testing. Some test devices are not accurate, and some are not easy to use.
Option2 # Hire a radon measurement professional
HOW TO INTERPRET RADON RESULTS
Bq/m3 and pCi/L are different units of measurement for the radioactivity within a volume of space.
Bq/m3 is used globally, and pCi/L is almost exclusively used in the United States. One unit is not necessarily better than the other. They are just different units measuring the same thing.
1 pCi/L = 37 Bq/m3
Take actions if a home’s radon concentration exceeds the Canadian guideline level of 200 Bq/m3.
* For you information, per EPA(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Greater than or Equal to 4.0 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3)
Above 4.0 pCi/L, you are putting yourself at unusually high risk for lung damage and cancer. This levels is roughly the same lung cancer exposure risk as smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day. If you are testing radon in conjunction with the sale of the building, 4.0 is typically used as the threshold radon level.
Between 2.7 and 4.0 pCi/L ( 100 Bq/m3 – 148 Bq/m3)
When reading your radon test results, it is worth noting that even though EPA indicates 4.0 pCi/L, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mitigation at or over 2.7 pCi/L. If you are testing for you own safety, as opposed to selling the building, you may consider mitigation when you are in this range.
One factor to consider at this level is the amount of time spent in the lowest floor of your home. Another is the actual height of your nose above the floor while in that area. Anyone who sits or lays down for extended periods while in those areas will receive a higher radon dose than those standing. Children, especially crawling children, are more affected because of the proximity of their noses to the floor.