Radon

WHAT IS RADON?

• Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed from the breakdown of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Uranium is common in New Brunswick soils.
• You cannot see, smell, or taste radon gas, so the only way to know if your home has an elevated concentration of radon is to test for it.
• When radon escapes into outdoor air it is diluted to low concentrations. But, when it gets into buildings through cracks in walls, floors, or pipes it can become trapped indoors, leading to higher levels of radon. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can be harmful to your health.
• The Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air is 200 Becquerels per cubic meter (200 Bq/m³). This applies to homes and public buildings like schools, hospitals, long‑term‑care residences, and correctional facilities. For information about radon guidelines in workplaces contact WorkSafeNB.

RADON IN NEW BRUNSWICK

1 in 4 New Brunswick homes have high levels of radon

• The 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey found that 1 in 4 New Brunswick homes have radon levels higher than the recommended 200 Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³).
• Radon levels are different across regions in the province and even between homes in the same community.
• The only way to know the radon levels in your home is to do a test.

HEALTH EFFECTS

• In Canada, long-term radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. New Brunswick has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in Canada (NB Lung).
• When radon is breathed in, the radioactive particles can damage the cells in the lungs. Over time, this damage can lead to lung cancer.
• Radon enters in areas where a building has contact with the ground, so concentrations of radon can be higher in the lower levels of a building. Someone who spends a lot of time in a building that has higher rates of radon is at a greater risk for developing lung cancer later in life.
  
• People who smoke have a higher risk of lung cancer. If you smoke or have smoked, and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is much higher than from radon exposure alone.  

TESTING FOR RADON

The only way to know a building’s radon level is to do a test. The most accurate way to test for radon is by using a long-term radon detection kit.

LONG-TERM RADON TESTS

• Health Canada recommends measuring radon in your home over a period of 3 to 12 months (at least 3 months or 90 days+). Longer tests give a more accurate estimate. It is best to test radon levels during the times of year when your house has the least airflow such as during the fall and winter when windows and doors are closed more often.
• Place your radon test on the lowest lived-in level of your home, in a room you use often.

SHORT-TERM RADON TESTS

• Short-term tests are less precise and do not replace the need for long-term (90 days+) testing. These tests can give an early warning of extremely high radon levels or a fast check of how a radon reduction system is working. The result of any short-term test should be confirmed with a follow-up long-term test done in the same place.

You can buy long-term radon test kits from NB Lung or from a local hardware store. Qualified professionals can also complete a test for you for a fee.

Take Action on Radon’s 100 Test Kit Challenge provides test kits to municipalities across Canada, visit their website for more information.

Information on testing your home for radon is available from Health Canada Health Canada - Radon: Testing Your Home.

READING YOUR RADON TEST RESULTS

If you use a long-term (90 days+) radon detection kit, and the radon concentration is above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m3, Health Canada recommends that you take action to lower the concentration. The higher the radon concentration, the sooner you should act. Techniques to lower radon levels are effective and can save lives by reducing the risk of lung cancer.

Health Canada advises that a decision on whether to take action to reduce radon levels in a home should not be based on short-term measurements. Always confirm short-term results with a long-term test in the same location.

ACTING ON RESULTS

While the health risk from radon exposure below the Canadian Guideline (200 Bq/m³) is small, there is no level that is considered risk free. Each homeowner must decide what level of radon they are comfortable with. Regardless of radon level, any action taken to reduce an individual's radon exposure will decrease their health risk. There are ways to lower radon levels that are effective. The ways to reduce radon levels will depend on a home’s construction, the detected radon level, and how radon is entering the home.

If your radon test result is above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m³, a certified radon professional can advise on options for lowering the radon level in your home. You can find professionals that work in New Brunswick here: Find a Professional – Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program.

Methods to reduce radon levels may include sealing off radon entry points such as cracks in foundation or installing systems to vent indoor air containing radon to the outside. The cost of a radon mitigation system is similar to other common home repairs, such as replacing a furnace or air conditioner, and can be installed in less than a day. In most homes a mitigation system can reduce the radon level by more than 80%.

Cover exposed soil or gravel. In crawl spaces or unfinished basements, cover the ground with thick plastic sheeting and seal it tightly where it meets walls or supports. This helps prevent radon from entering from the ground. A certified radon professional can add a vent pipe and fan if needed for greater reduction.

Health Canada has created a guide to provide professional building contractors with information on reducing radon levels in homes in contact with soil. For more information visit: H128-1-11-653-eng.pdf

Homes built in New Brunswick after 2015 may have radon mitigation rough ins already in place.

After radon mitigation or prevention work is completed, the radon levels in the building should be retested. Radon levels should also be retested following any major renovations, especially if the structure or ventilation of the home was affected by the renovations.  

Remediation:

The cost of reducing radon depends on the size and design of a home and the work required. For most houses, a radon mitigation system typically costs between $3,000 and $5,000, though some may be higher. The effectiveness of mitigation system depends on the home’s design, the radon level, and the quality of the installation. You may be eligible for support through the Homeowner Repair Program: www.gnb.ca/en/topic/family-home-community/housing-property/home-repair.html or the Lungs Matter: Home Radon Mitigation Grant: www.lung.ca/air-quality/radon/lungs-matter-radon-mitigation-support

           TIMEFRAMES FOR TAKING ACTION

• If your radon level was below 200 Bq/m³, it is within the Canadian guideline. Consider testing again within the next 5 years.
• If your radon level is above 200 Bq/m³, mitigation should occur within 1 year. The higher the level of radon, the sooner individuals should take action.
• Mitigation measures should reduce the level of radon in the home to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)