What are radon levels like in Ontario?
Radon concentrations differ from house to house and region to region, but every region in Canada has some homes with high levels.
Based on Health Canada’s 2012 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, 8% of homes in ON measured above the radon guideline of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3). However, in certain regions up to 19% of homes were above the guideline level.
Remember: no matter what percentage of homes in a region test above the guideline level, it’s impossible to know what the radon level will be in any given home until it is tested. Every home needs to test!
Scroll down to find a Radon Test Kit Provider in the province of Ontario.
Radon Maps
Sandra, emphasizes how testing and reducing radon in your home can give you piece of mind that you house is safe. “Just get your house tested. Radon is something that can really affect our health, and we don’t even know it’s there until we test for it. Test your home so you can know you’re safe!”
Carolyn had tested a previous house so was aware of the risk of high radon levels. She saw reports that Kingston, ON had high levels. After her house was renovated, she got her house tested. Once levels came back high, she got her house mitigated. “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It’s important to see if there is anything you can do to lower your radon levels and cancer risk for you and your family.”
100 Radon Test Kit Challenge Reports
Find a Radon Test Kit from a company that works Ontario:
Lex Scientific
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: (519) 824-7082
Email: radon@lexscientific.com
Return Postage: Additional Fees
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
Pinchin Ltd.
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: (855) 746-2446
Email: radonlab@pinchin.com
Return Postage: Additional Fee
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
Canada Radon
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: 1 (844) 887-2366
Email: info@canadaradon.com
Return Postage: Additional Fee
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
AGAT Laboratories
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: (613) 225-8668
Email: radon@agatlabs.com
Return Postage: Additional Fee
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
Algoma Radon Testing
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: (705) 297-5511
Email: algoma.radon@gmail.com
Return Postage: Additional Fee
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
Mr. Radon Inc.
Ontario – Organization Shipping Across Canada
Tel: (905) 985-5545
Email: sherry@mr-radon.ca
Return Postage: Additional Fee
Lab Fees: Included
Telephone Orders Accepted
Order Online
What’s happening in Ontario
- Ontario Region Meeting Sept 2022
- Ministry of Labour
- Ministry of Labour Radon Testing Project – Testing Small and Medium Workplaces for radon; Click here to join.
- Tarion Home Warranty for Radon:
- Provides coverage on homes within the first 7 years. If radon gas within a home exceeds Health Canada’s acceptable levels of 200 Bq/m3, Tarion will cover the costs required to mitigate a home, up to a limit of $50,000 using a C-NRPP Mitigation professional.
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Radon is one of three priorities in 2018 Public Health Standards
- 2018 Health Environments and Climate Change Guideline
- Ontario Public Health Standards
- Municipalities and Public Health Units:
- City of Cambridge:
- Testing all of their owned buildings are in the process of testing public buildings
- City of Kingston:
- Recently released their study of 1,047 homes in the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington area.
- Find a copy of their report here.
- City of Kingston is introducing new building code requirements.
- City of Thunder Bay:
- Completing a region study on radon in partnership with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- Algoma Public Health:
- Given out over x free tests kits. Promoting radon awareness and free test kits through their Facebook account
- Windsor-Essex Health Unit:
- Oliver- Paipoonge Municipality:
- 65% of homes testing over the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m3: several public awareness meetings were held, in addition to online advertising and public service announcements
- Directly sells radon test kits
- Sends mailer out in high-risk areas
- City of Cambridge:
Do you know of radon initiatives or events happening in Ontario? Is your municipality doing something related to radon? Share your event!
Check out other provinces
Radon in the news
- “Public Health warns of radon levels after high numbers recorded in several Kingston-area homes“, Global News, August 12, 2019
- “Radon gas a bigger problem in Lanark, Grenville, than elsewhere in Ontario,” InsideOttawaValley.com, April 8, 2019
- “Low levels of radon found across Windsor-Essex,” CTV News Windsor, March 6, 2019
- “Port Colborne wants info on radon levels in city,” The Standard, January 24, 2019
- “Elgin volunteers sought for radon study,” West Elgin Chronicle, January 23, 2019
- “Port Colborne wants to combat radon,” Port Colborne Leader, January 22, 2019
- “Peterborough Public Health to hold radon information session,” Global News, January 11, 2019
- “People in Sudbury urged to test for radon gas,” The Sudbury Star, November 24, 2018
- “High radon gas risk in region,” Dryden Now, November 23, 2018
- “Time to test your home for radon concentration,” The Miden Times, November 22, 2018
- “Insurance Companies Don’t Cover Radon Mitigation But Experts Say That’s No Excuse,” My Muskoka Now, November 21, 2018
- Radon Program, tbnewswatch.com, November 21, 2018 (Video)
- “Homeowners Encourages to Test for Radon,” 89.5 The Lake, November 20, 2018
- “Radon Gas Second Highest Cause of Lung Cancer in Canadians,” My Muskoka Now, November 20, 2018
- “Grey Bruce Health Unit offered Radon testing kits,” SouthWesternOntario.ca, November 12, 2018
- “Radon Testing Kits popular in Grey Bruce,” BlackburnNews.com, November 9, 2018
- Radon video, tbnewswatch.com, November 9, 2018 (video)
- “Lindsay Wellness Fair hosts 45 vendors to promote health and screening,” Global News, November 8, 2018
- “High levels of radon detected in region,” The Chronicle Journal, November 8, 2018
- “Radon Levels High,” TRCCTB.com, November 7, 2018
- “Health Unit study finds majority of homes in Oliver Paipoonge have high radon levels,” tbnewswatch.com, November 7 , 2018
- “DID YOU KNOW? 15% of homes in WDGPH’s boundaries contain unsafe levels of radon gas,” Orangeville Banner, November 6, 2018
- “WDG Public Health hosting a radon and lung cancer information session,” Global News, October 31, 2018
- Be informed and test your home for radon gas,” GuelphToday, October 30, 2018
- “Free radon testing offered to eligible Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington homeowners,” The Whig-Standard, October 8, 2018
Organizational Stakeholders in Ontario
Association pulmonaire du Québec/Quebec Lung Association
The Association pulmonaire du Québec provides education and awareness to Québécois about radon and the health risks associated with long-term exposure to high concentrations. In addition, the Association pulmonaire du Québec sells Health Canada approved long-term radon test kits, which includes laboratory analysis costs.
