Radon levels consistently eclipse provincial and national estimates, according to new findings from a Canada-wide citizen science initiative conducted over the past three years.
More than ten years ago, Health Canada released a report detailing the percentage of homes with radon levels above 200 Bq/m3 on the national, provincial and health region levels. Provincial averages ranged from four to 25 per cent, and the estimated national average was seven per cent.
But Take Action on Radon (TAOR) reveals that the overwhelming majority of communities that have taken part in their 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge program are finding that dangerous levels of the cancer-causing gas are much more common.
“I was shocked by our citizen science results,” says Pam Warkentin, of TAOR. “Particularly as we’re seeing high levels across the country. Of the 43 communities we have tested so far, 39 communities are at or above Health Canada’s national estimate.”
All forms of housing were eligible to test in this program, including multi-unit residential buildings, duplexes and townhomes and no restrictions were placed on the age of the homes. The program measured between 2018 and 2021, and all testing was undertaken for three months over the winter heating periods.
“Each year, the more test kits we distribute, the more homes we find with elevated levels,” says Erin Curry, a TAOR lead. “It is a misconception to think that radon is a problem just in certain areas. We are finding elevated levels in all regions; in small towns and larger cities and in all types and ages of homes.”
Anne-Marie Nicol, an associate professor of health science at SFU, says relying on provincial averages needs to stop.
“We need to start talking about radon at a much more local level,” she says. “Right now, there are very few provincial policies that protect people from radon exposure. The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge has shown us that many municipalities are interested and willing to take action once they know about the radon in their region.”
A radon refresher
Radon is an odourless, colourless, radioactive soil gas that is formed as uranium breaks down over time. The gas is unstable and releases alpha particles, a type of radiation that is particularly damaging to lung tissues. Radon is a problem across Canada as uranium is present in the soils and rocks of all regions, and it poses a problem indoors as it enters buildings from the surrounding soil through the foundation. Over time, the gas levels can build up and exceed recommended guidelines, posing a health risk.
Exposure to elevated levels can lead to lung cancer. “Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and if you smoke the combined risk is even higher,” says Lynn Murad, senior specialist cancer prevention with the Canadian Cancer Society. “The only way to determine if your home has high levels of radon is to test. We encourage people in Canada to test their homes for radon as soon as possible and take action to reduce levels if necessary.”
As the new report finds, most provinces and communities still aren’t addressing radon in a meaningful way, One big hurdle is that the data has not been easily accessible at the community level, and granular results are buried in averages. TAOR is encouraging more communities to engage in testing. Several others that have tested are currently implementing changes to building practices, providing mitigation grants, or making testing more accessible to their residents.
