What is Radon?
Video: What is Radon and How to Test Your Home and Office
Radon is a radioactive gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon that escapes from the ground into the outdoor air is diluted to low concentrations and is not a concern. However, radon that enters an enclosed space, such as a home, can sometimes accumulate to high levels.
Test Your Home for Radon
Video: Detect Radon In Your Home
To order a radon test, call SRC toll-free to 1-800-240-8808 or email analytical@src.sk.ca.
For more information, download the free booklet ‘Radon: A Guide for the Canadian Home Owner’ at www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.
Why is Radon Harmful?
The only known health risk associated with exposure to radon is an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
How Radon Can Enter Your Home
During much of the year, the air pressure inside your home is lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressures draws air and other gases in the soil, including radon, into the home. Soil gas containing radon can enter a house any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the soil. These openings can be present even in well-built and new houses.
Is Your Home at Risk?
Almost all homes have some radon. Health Canada’s testing has found that certain geographic locations may have higher probabilities of elevated levels of radon. Radon levels can vary dramatically even between similar homes located next to each other. The amount of radon in a home will depend on many factors such as soil characteristics, construction type, foundation, occupant lifestyle and weather. The only way to determine whether your home has a high radon level is to test for it.
Testing Options at SRC's Environmental Analytical Lab
Short term Testing
If a radon test is requested due to a real estate sale usually a short term test is done, and may be followed by a second short term to decide if remediation is required.
Charcoal detector:
This detector consists of a small container filled with charcoal which absorbs radon. The detector is exposed to the air in your home for 48 hours. This is a screening technique that will give a snapshot in time of the radon level. However, radon levels can vary daily and seasonal variations can be large, with the highest levels usually experienced during the winter.
Long term Testing
Because radon levels vary daily, it is preferable to make the test period as long as possible to determine an average level.
Alpha track detector:
This detector consists of a piece of a special plastic film inside a small plastic container. Air diffuses through small openings in the container. When alpha particles from radon strike the detector, they make microscopic tracks on the surface of the plastic film. The radon level is calculated from the number of tracks and the number of days the detector is exposed.
The alpha track detector is typically exposed from one to twelve months. This will give a much better indication of your exposure than a short term measurement device.
Electret Ion chamber:
This consists of a plastic canister that contains a disk with an electrostatic charge. When it is exposed to radon, the change in the charge determines the radon level.
The electret ion chamber is typically exposed from one week to several months.
