Resources: 
- Sample Recruitment Plan
- Ideas for Distribution and Collection
Resources for Promoting Radon Awareness:
- Poster for 100 Test Kit Project
- TAOR-postcard
- Participant Sign up form
Frequently Asked:
What is the relationship between radon and cancer?
Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. Radon is released into the air during the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. Radon enters homes and buildings through any place in contact with the soil, such as small cracks in the foundation, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, floor drains and sumps. Radon levels indoors can reach high concentrations, and long-term exposure to these radon levels greatly increases an individual’s lifetime risk of developing lung cancer.
An individual’s risk depends both on the radon level and the length of exposure, as well as their smoking habits. Lung cancer can develop after many years of radon exposure. Health Canada estimates that about 16% of lung cancer deaths are related to exposure to radon in the home. Radon exposure is the LEADING CAUSE of lung cancer in non-smokers and it is estimated there are more than 3,200 radon-related lung cancer deaths in Canada each year.
How does radon cause lung cancer?
As a radioactive gas, radon decays. As it decays, radon produces decay products, sometimes called “radon daughters” or “radon progeny”. Radon gas and radon progeny in the air can be breathed into the lungs where they break down further and emit “alpha particles“ inside the lungs.
Alpha particles release small bursts of energy which are then absorbed by nearby lung tissue. This results in lung cell death or damage. When lung cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce (mutation).
Why is Take Action on Radon conducting this testing survey across Canada?
The goal of this survey is to gather more information about radon concentrations throughout the country to increase our knowledge and help us to better understand concentration levels.
How does radon enter a home?
For most of the year, the air pressure inside your home is lower than the pressure in the soil surrounding your foundation. This difference in pressure can draw soil gases, including radon, into the house. Gas containing radon can enter your home at any opening where the house contacts the soil. These openings can be present even in well-built and new houses. Potential entry routes for radon in homes include small cracks in foundation or air openings around joints, fittings and pipes.
What factors influence high radon levels in a home?
Because there are so many factors, it is not possible to predict the radon level in a home; the only way to know your radon level is to test. All homes have some level of radon. The levels can vary dramatically even between similar homes located next to each other.
The amount of radon in a home will depend on many factors including:
- Soil characteristics: Radon concentrations can vary enormously depending on the uranium content of the soil. The greater the source, the greater the potential that radon could enter a building. In addition, radon flows more easily through some soils than others; for example through sand versus clay.
- Construction type: The type of home and its design affect the amount of contact with the soil and the number and size of entry points for radon.
- Foundation condition: Foundations with numerous cracks and openings have more potential entry points for radon.
- Occupant lifestyle: The use of exhaust fans, windows and fireplaces, for example, influences the pressure difference between the house and the soil. This pressure difference can draw radon indoors and influences the rate of exchange of outdoor and indoor air.
- Weather: Variations in weather (e.g., temperature, wind, barometric pressure, precipitation, etc.) can affect the amount of radon that enters a home.
How do you test for radon?
Radon levels can fluctuate through time, so to get an accurate estimate of your annual average it is important to test for a minimum of 91-days during the heating season. Once you receive the test, read the instructions to choose the best location for placing the test in your home, open the package, and set the device in place for 91 days. At the end of the 91-day period, pack the test up and ship it back to the lab for analysis. More information can be found online: https://takeactiononradon.ca/test/
How accurate are the radon tests/monitors?
The detectors that we used for 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge are the most accurate detectors, the process that we have followed has included a quality assurance program to ensure that the individual detectors are also accurate and so we have confidence in the radon levels being reported on the radon test reports which participants are receiving.
I just tested my house for radon this winter and my levels are high, should I retest my house?
Health Canada’s recommendation is to test using a long-term alphatrack for a minimum of 91-days. If you are using detectors which are listed on the C-NRPP list and the project or radon professional is following proper quality assurance guidance you can have confidence in your radon levels reported on your radon report are accurate. You will want to consider Health Canada’s recommendations for reducing radon levels.
What is the radon action level?
The Government of Canada recommends action when 91-day tests are above 200 Bq/m3
|
FIX NOW |
FIX SOON |
|
If your radon levels 200 – 600 Bq/m3 |
If your radon levels 600+ Bq/m3 |
| Reduce your radon within 1 year. |
Reduce your radon within 2 years |
What if my test comes back low?
If your radon level is below Canada’s action level, no further action is required. However, radon levels can vary over time. We encourage you to test again in 2-3 years and encourage others to test their homes.
What if someone lives outside of the specified communities wants a test kit? Where can they get one?
Take Action on Radon (takeactiononradon.ca) provides more information on where to buy radon test kits
What should people do if they have high levels of radon?
Home testing is only part of the solution. If high levels are found, homes must be mitigated. If your home is found to have high radon levels, your first step should be to consult a local Radon Mitigation Professional who has been certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). Mitigation can involve either limiting entry of radon into the home or expelling radon to the outdoors before it reaches lived-in spaces. The first approach uses passive measures, such as sealing cracks or laying a gravel base and a polyethylene barrier under the foundation. The second, more effective approach uses active measures, such as sub-slab depressurization which employs a fan to draw radon-containing air outdoors from under the home and provide a pathway out of the home. A C-NRPP Radon Mitigation Professional will guide you toward the most effective mitigation approach for your home.
You can find a list of C-NRPP Certified Mitigation Professionals at C-NRPP Professionals
Can radon enter the home through other ways? How about through water?
Radon can also be found in groundwater. When water containing radon is agitated during daily household use – showering, clothes washing or cooking, for example – the radon gas can be released into the air. In most cases, the risk of radon entering the home through water is much lower than the risk of it entering through the ground. A home that uses water from a well should first test the air for radon, and could then consider conducting a radon in water test if radon levels are found to be elevated.
How long will it take to get results once the lab receives our batch of kits?
Once the lab has received the batch of kits from the community, they should provide the results within two weeks. They will provide the results to the email that was listed on the when the Start Test information was entered. If no email was provided. They will mail the results to the address listed as the contact address. The length of time to receive the results by mail will vary depending on the mail service but could be 4 week after the tests are received. If you don’t receive the results, please contact the Take Action on Radon group and we will investigate the reason for the delay.
New Homes in our community already have a radon pipe in the basement. Do they still need to be tested for radon?
They still need to be tested for radon. New homes could have either a radon rough-in stub pipe or a radon rough-in extended pipe. Both of these pipes are intended to make reducing radon easier once the home occupant has tested for radon and determined if radon reduction is required.
The BC Building Code requirements for radon vary by year and region. Some homes have a radon stub pipe or an extended pipe that runs through the house. These features are the beginning of a radon mitigation system and can make installation easier. Long-term (91 day) testing is still necessary.
The Ontario Building Code requires each municipality to determine if radon is ‘constitutes a hazard to their residents’ in order to determine if there should be requirements for radon control measures in new construction. The National Building Code includes radon control measures.
Is there any financial support for homeowners who need to install a radon mitigation system?
Currently, we only know of two programs that provide some type of assistance however, we will update our website as we learn of others.
In Ontario, Tarion Warranty covers new homes for the first seven years after construction. If homes test above the Health Canada guideline then the warranty program covers the cost of the radon mitigation system if installed by a C-NRPP Professional.
In Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro has a loan program where homeowner’s can access their Energy Finance Plan to finance the cost of a radon mitigation system if the system is installed by an approved contractor who must be certified for radon mitigation through C-NRPP and meet their other contractor requirements.
Does radon gas exposure cause health effects other than lung cancer?
No. To date, medical researchers have not conclusively linked radon exposure to health concerns other than lung cancer.
Should I tell my doctor about my radon levels?
Yes, it is important that your doctor knows about exposures that can impact your lung health.
I tested for radon and my results were below the Government of Canada’s 200 Bq/m3 guideline, should I test again and if so, when?
If you make substantial changes to your home through renovations or additions or if you undertake energy efficiency changes that significantly seal up your home, you should test again. Otherwise, it is a good idea to test every five years.
Is radon a concern outdoors?
Radon is found naturally in the environment when uranium in soil and rock decays. When released from the ground into the outdoor air, radon is diluted and does not pose a significant health risk. However, in enclosed spaces such as homes, radon can sometimes accumulate to high levels and become a health concern.
What type of information are you collecting from participants of the 100 Radon Test Kits Challenge and how are you using it?
When homeowners are provided with the radon test kits, we collect their contact information (name, email, and phone number), this information will be used to follow up with the participants to remind them to open and place the test, enter the information online and complete the online housing survey. We will also use it to contact them at the end of the test period to remind them that the collection dates and coming up and where they can drop off the detector.
Limited number of detectors are being provided free and so we want to make sure that each detector is being used. We will reach out to contact participants if they haven’t recorded their start time to ensure that they are planning on using the radon test. Also, start and end dates are important information for the lab to provide a participant with results. Having contact information connected with a serial number, will allow us to contact participants for information to assist the lab in providing test results.
Who collects the information?
This information will be collected by the individuals and volunteers who are handing out test kits, it will be given to CARST (the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists) who is the Lead for the Take Action on Radon project.
Where is the information kept/stored?
This information will be stored in paper form in our CARST offices and on computer until we have completed the project for the purposes of ensuring we have all the contact information registered and results provided to participants. The information will be kept until all results have been distributed.
The personal information will be maintained by CARST for the purposes of ensuring the participants has the test results.
When will the records be destroyed?
The records will be kept and stored securely for at least 1 year after the completion of the project to ensure it is available if required to respond to any participant inquiries. After that, it will be destroyed as per our usual schedule of shredding of 2 years after the date of the project.
What if someone lives outside of the specified communities wants a test kit? Where can they get one?
Take Action on Radon (takeactiononradon.ca) provides more information on where to buy radon test kits
What is Take Action on Radon?
The Take Action on Radon is a national initiative funded by Health Canada to bring together stakeholders and raise awareness on radon across Canada.
The current advisory team is made up of the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST), CAREX Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Why is Take Action on Radon conducting this testing survey across Canada?
The goal of this survey is to gather more information about radon concentrations throughout the country to increase our knowledge and help us to better understand concentration levels.
OTHER RESOURCES:
(Additional material/links can be found at https://takeactiononradon.ca/join/resources-for-stakeholders/)
- Take Action on Radon (infographic)
Health Canada Publications:
Cross Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/radon/survey-sondage-eng.php
Radon – Another Reason to Quit, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_smokers-fumeurs/index-eng.php
Radon – Is it in Your Home?, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_brochure/index-eng.php
Radon – What you need to know, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/contaminants/radon/index-eng.php
Radon Reduction Guide for Canadians, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_canadians-canadiens/index-eng.php
