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Radon may be a silent health risk in your homeless
November 28, 2024 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
It is Radon Action Month and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is encouraging residents to test their homes for radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that – through prolonged exposure at elevated levels – can take a serious toll on a person’s health. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and is responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 people in Canada each year.
The gas is naturally found in the environment and can enter your home through cracks in the foundation walls, gaps around pipes, drains, or sump pumps. It is often undetected.
Checking your home for radon is simple and can be done with a do-it-yourself kit, which can be purchased, or by contacting a certified radon professional.
The Canadian guideline for radon is 200 becquerels per cubic meter. When levels exceed this guideline, a long-term test is recommended.
If higher levels of radon is detected in your home, you should contact a certified radon professional to help you reduce those radon levels.
The discovery of radon is a warrantable defect under the Ontario New Home Warranty and Protection Plan for new homes that are seven years old and less.
Homes older than seven years are eligible for home radon mitigation support through the Canadian Lung Association.
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