What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from uranium in the ground that can get into your home undetected. It is a radioactive colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. All homes have some level of radon. However, you will not know if you have safe levels of radon unless you test your home or business. In confined spaces like a house, radon can build up to high levels and over time become a health risk. The current Canadian guideline for radon is 200 becquerels per cubic meter (200 Bq/m3). This means that radon measurements over this amount are considered dangerous and should be mitigated within a reasonable amount of time.
Radon can enter a home or building through cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs, construction joints, openings around water connections and support poles, floor drains and sumps, empty spaces in walls and the water supply network. It is important to note that if a home tests at safe levels for radon, the homes on either side of that home can have high levels. High radon levels can be in any type of home or building that has contact with the soil. A study conducted by Evict Radon found that 1 in 6 homes in Canada have dangerously high radon gas levels.