Radon

Safety - Home Energy and Building Envelope pillar

Also known as: radon gas

Radioactive gas from soil that accumulates in basements. Health Canada classifies it as the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and recommends every home test.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil. It seeps into homes through basement floor cracks, sump pits, and slab penetrations and accumulates in the lowest levels of the house. Health Canada classifies radon as the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in Canada and recommends every home test, since soil concentrations vary lot by lot. Action level is 200 Bq/m3. Long-term tests (90+ days) are the only valid measurement; short-term snapshot tests are unreliable. Mitigation by sub-slab depressurization typically costs $2,500-$4,500 in Ontario.

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