Understanding the Impact of Radon Gas: Our Comprehensive Guide

What is radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally emitted from the ground when the uranium in rock and soil breaks down. It is invisible, odourless, and tasteless.

When radon is released from the ground outdoors, it is diluted with the air and is not a concern. However, radon can accumulate in enclosed spaces like homes, which can become a health risk.

Why is radon a risk?

When radon gas is breathed into the lungs, it continues to break down or decay and creates radioactive elements. These radioactive particles release small bursts of energy, which is absorbed by the nearby lung tissue. This damages the lung cells, resulting in the potential for cancer when these damaged cells reproduce.

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.

How can radon get into my home?

Radon can enter your home from any opening in the foundation that makes contact with the soil. This includes cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs, gaps around service pipes, window casements, floor drains, construction joints, sumps or cavities inside walls, and support posts.

Since the air pressure inside your home is usually lower than the soil surrounding the foundation, this difference in pressure draws in air and other gases (including radon) from the soil into your home.

What can I do about radon?

The only way to know whether radon is an issue in your home is to conduct a radon test. Because radon comes from the soil, there is usually some radon found in every home. However, it depends on the concentration levels whether it can be a threat to you and your family's health. We recommend getting your home tested by a certified professional to ensure accurate results.

Health Canada recommends taking action if the radon levels in your home exceed 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m³). If your home does have elevated levels of radon, you can mitigate it with a radon reduction system.

Marcel Brascoupe pictured with Mike Holmes

Marcel Brascoupe, owner and founder of MB Radon Solutions, was one of the radon specialists who took part in training the Mike Holmes team on radon measurement and mitigation.