What You Need to Know About Radon

Updated: Jun 10

The Kootenay region is known to have high levels of Radon. Here's what that means for you.

What is Radon, Anyway?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released by the breakdown of Uranium in soil and rocks. It is both colorless and odorless. Radon is present in the air everywhere on Earth, but it can build up to unsafe levels in homes and buildings.

Lung Cancer

Long-term exposure to high levels of Radon can cause lung cancer. Immediate exposure to high levels of Radon does not produce any immediate effects or symptoms. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in BC. It is the second leading cause for smokers. According to the World Health Organization:

"The risk of lung cancer increases by about 16% per 100 Bq/m³ increase..."

How Much is Too Much?

Atmospheric levels of Radon are typically around 15 Bq/m³. That means there are 15 atoms that decay radioactively per cubic meter of air, per second. The current Canadian guideline for indoor Radon levels is that they should not exceed 200 Bq/m³.

Health Canada recommendations:

Remediate within 2 years: Results between 200 and 600 Bq/m³
Remediate within 1 year: Results greater than 600 Bq/m³

Radon in the Kootenays

The Kootenay region is known to have high levels of Radon due to our geology. Here are the numbers for recorded Radon levels in our area. Data shown is an average for 95th percentile homes, or the 5% of homes with the highest levels of Radon in the data set. (Source BCCDC)

Community	Sample Size (homes)	Radon Level
Castlegar	1501	950 Bq/m³
Trail/Fruitvale	305	608.5 Bq/m³
Salmo	37	1277 Bq/m³
Nelson	631	598 Bq/m³

Why is it Worse Indoors?

We build our homes to be as airtight as possible to reduce heating costs. That also means Radon that comes up through the soil can't escape. Radon enters our buildings through a few different routes.

Photo courtesy of Health Canada

What Can I Do?

The first step is to test your Radon levels. There are two types of tests you can get.

Short-term test (2-90 days) This gives you an initial idea of what your levels might be. Radon levels can fluctuate daily, and are at their highest in the winter months when we do not open doors as windows much. Short-term testing is mostly used to get a rough idea of the levels.

Long-term test (90+ days) This provides a much more accurate measurement for assessing the long-term health implications of living in the building. Remember, your highest levels occur during the winter.

Short-term monitors may be available to borrow at your local library. Long-term test kits are available for purchase online for under $100.

Remediation

If your Radon level is above the recommended amount, you will want to pursue remediation. You can search for Radon measurement and Mitigation professionals here.