Radon is responsible for 16% of all lung cancer, causing over 3,000 deaths nationally. It is the number one risk of lung cancer for people who don’t smoke, and it adds to the risk for people who currently or previously smoked.
Radon is a tasteless, odourless and invisible radioactive gas.
It is naturally occuring in our soil from the breakdown of uranium. Radon filters up from the ground and enters all buildings which are in contact with the ground. In the outdoors, radon is diluted to low levels, however inside buildings, radon can build up to harmful levels. Breathing increased levels of radon increases a person’s chance of developing lung cancer.
Everyone is at risk when it comes to elevated levels of radon.
Anyone who breathes in elevated levels of radon, exposes their lungs to risk of damaged cell tissue.
It is important to test and reduce radon levels in houses, apartments, schools, daycares, warehouses and commercial spaces.
No building is radon-free. By hiring a C-NRPP certified Radon Measurement Professional to measure radon levels in the air, or doing the tests yourself, you are taking the first steps of preventing lung cancer in your family or occupants of the building.
If a test reveals elevated levels of radon, a C-NRPP certified Mitigation Professional can help you identify the best radon mitigation system for your space. They will design an effective system, install it according to proper protocols and follow up with a test to ensure the system’s effectiveness in reducing radon levels immediately after installation.
There are a variety of ways to measure radon in your home, but it’s important to use a C-NRPP approved device and follow Health Canada’s recommendations for testing.
Once you measure a building for radon and determine that levels are too high, there are steps that you can take to reduce radon levels.
For new homes, building codes and standards include measures specifically designed to make radon mitigation systems quieter, more efficient and more effective.
What to expect at every stage of the radon testing and mitigation process.
Check that the professional you are working with has an active certification from C-NRPP.
