How Radon gets in your home

Radon gas can enter a building or home through any opening where the house contacts the ground, such as:

• Cracks in foundation floor and walls
• Construction joints
• Gaps around service pipes and cables
• Support posts
• Window casements
• Floor drains
• Sumps or cavities inside walls

Levels of radon differ from home to home. In many homes, entry routes for radon may be hidden by paneling, carpets, appliances, or other objects. Radon levels are generally highest in basements and crawl spaces because these areas are nearest to the source and are usually poorly ventilated. Radon levels vary, with higher concentrations typically found in poorly ventilated rooms, basements, cellars, and crawlspaces. 

Did you know?

The Elliot Lake area has proven to have higher levels of uranium in the soil resulting in higher amounts of radon gas accumulation in homes? Building requirements are in effect under the Ontario Building Code to control soil gas emissions such as Radon Gas for these residents.

The maps below are to show that radon levels can be found in homes across the district. It is important to understand that all homes will have different radon levels.

For more information on the mapping of radon results, please visit the Government of Canada's Data Blog - Radon Action Month.

What you can do about Radon

The only way to know the level of Radon in your home is to test! Long-term test kits and short-term test kits are available. You can also contact a certified radon measurement professional. The Government of Canada recommends long-term testing kits, which collect samples over a minimum of 3 months. Testing should be done during the winter months when air flow is at its lowest. Health Canada recommends that steps should be taken to lower the radon level in a home whenever the average annual radon concentration exceeds 200 Bq/m3.

Did you know some local libraries also lend radon kits free of charge?
Contact your local library to borrow a radon kit free of charge!

If you have high levels in your home

If you’ve tested your home and the radon level is about the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m3, Health Canada recommends that you take action.

1. Spend less time in the basement.
2. Increase under-floor ventilation.
3. Seal gaps around pipes and any cracks in your walls and foundation.
4. Increase air flow and ventilation in your basement by opening windows.
5. Contact a local contractor to install one of the many radon reduction systems available on the market.
6. Test again next winter and compare your results.

Algoma Public Health encourages communities to report results. All results are anonymously recorded. Contact Algoma Public Health for more information on Radon Gas and how you can protect yourself and those around you.

Radon prevention should be considered whenever new structures are built, particularly in areas known to have higher levels of radon. Radon reduction strategies should be used in existing buildings with high radon levels.

Additional Resources

For more in-depth information on radon, visit any of the resources listed below:

• Radon: About - Canada.ca
• radon_canadians-canadien-eng.pdf (canada.ca)
• Radon | Canadian Cancer Society
• Radon gas: it's in your home - Canada.ca
• Test and Reduce Radon in Your Home - Take Action on Radon
• Radon | Canadian Lung Association
• Lungs Matter: Radon Mitigation Support | Canadian Lung Association
• Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings (Homes) - Canada.ca
• A_Homeowners_Guide_to_Radon_CREA.pdf

Contractors Who Can Help