Toronto Homes Have Lower Radon Risk: Health Canada

If you’re about to put your home on the market, having  proof a radon inspection might be a wise investment.

Radon is a toxic gas that is kind of like asbestos and mold’s ugly cousin. Homeowners hear about it once in a while, but it’s not usually in the media spotlight. It can be just as dangerous, although Ontario homeowners face a lower risk than homeowners in other provinces.

A new survey conducted by Health Canada has found elevated radon levels (levels above the safe level set by the federal government) in only 4.9 per cent of Ontario homes, compared with extremely high numbers in other provinces, such as 23.5 per cent in Manitoba.

While Ontario and Nova Scotia traditionally have more elevated levels of radon because of their soil make-up, Ontario and Nova Scotia homes had surprisingly fewer homes with high radon levels when compared to provinces like New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Radon is a radioactive gas that is released as naturally-occuring uranium decays in the soil. While it is outside all around us, it becomes dangerous when it builds up in confined spaces – like a home. A media release from Health Canada calling for homeowners to test their homes for radon comes before the survey is even completed.

“The first year results of this survey reinforce how important it is for Canadians to test their homes,” said the press release.

Long-term exposure to radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canadians after smoking. Homeowners can undergo a radon inspection, or purchase do-it-yourself kits from big box home improvement stores. These testing kits are usually left out for a few months in the lower levels of a home, after which the results can be read or sent off to a lab for further analysis. Radon problems are also often easy to fix and usually involve properly sealing foundation cracks or water wells so that radon can’t continue to creep up into the home.

If you’re buying a home, a radon inspection should be a part of your itinerary. Homeowners who are planning on selling their home can also show potential buyers proof of a radon inspection, which is a good idea to have on hand as radon gains more awareness.