What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in the ground in all regions of Canada. You cannot see, taste or smell it. Most buildings contain some amount of radon gas, but the only way to know if levels are high is to test for radon.
Why should you care?
Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause for smokers. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control's radon map, over 30% of homes in the Interior Health area are above the recommended radon level.
The BC Lung Foundation stresses the importance of healthy indoor environments, since Canadians spend 90% of their day indoors. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says radon is a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it is known to cause cancer. Health Canada warns that being around high levels of radon for a long time makes it more likely to get cancer. That’s why all buildings, like homes and workplaces, should be tested for radon.
Radon levels in homes and workplaces can be reduced at reasonable costs.
How does radon get indoors?
Radon enters all buildings that have contact with the soil through openings in the foundation. The best time to test a home for radon is during the cold months, as windows are closed and the cold weather can increase the amount of radon being drawn in from the soil. Testing is also best done when the house is occupied. Anyone who moves into a new house, should test their home in the first winter living in it.
Source: BC Centre for Disease Control
Free radon test kit program
October 2, 2025 - Registration and waitlist spots are full for the 2025/25 session. Thank you for your interest!
The RDCO Air Quality program provides free test kits for residents with support from Interior Health, Take Action on Radon and all partner municipalities. All Central Okanagan residents (including homeowners and renters) are eligible to participate in the free radon test kit program to test their home, work or leisure indoor environment.
Registration for the free radon test kit program does not guarantee participation. Kits are assigned on first-come, first-serve basis and are evenly distributed throughout the region.
| Free radon test kit - 2025/26 session | ||||||||||||||||
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For the 2025/26 session, 600 radon test kits will be available. Testing is recommended for at least 91 days during the cold months. Registration opens on October 1, 2025, until all available kits are claimed. October 2, 2025 - Registration and waitlist spots are full for the 2025/25 session. Thank you for your interest! Radon test kits will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and will be evenly distributed throughout the region. One radon test per property. Participants must have someone living in the home for the majority of the testing period. Participants must complete a mandatory start and end survey to enable the laboratory to analyze the detector and provide confidential test results. Participants (or a family member/friend) must be able to pick-up and drop-off the test kit within the following date ranges:
Radon test kits are available for purchase, starting at $49.99, through the BC Lung Foundation's online store. Radon test results will be emailed to participants. Please check your junk/spam folders. For updates or missing results: info@takeactiononradon.ca |
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Program timeline |
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Community collection locations |
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No pickup available on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (Remembrance Day).
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Understanding your test results |
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If you’ve tested your home, and the radon concentration is above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends that you take action to lower the concentrations. Over 200 Bq/m3 = Fix now (reduce your radon exposure within one year) |
Lung health check 2025
Central Okanagan residents can take part in a free low-dose CT Lung Health Check to assess their lung health. If you qualify, the study team will arrange for a CT scan at the Kelowna General Hospital.
Eligibility criteria:
- Individuals aged 50-75 years
- Are a non-smoker (<100 cigarettes in lifetime)
- Have tested their home (91-day radon test), and the results are 800 (Bq/m3) or greater
- Lived in the tested home for 3 years or more
- Family history of Lung cancer
- Have been exposed to Asbestos for 3 months or longer
- Have worked as a firefighter for > 5 years
To determine and confirm your eligibility or study-related questions, call 604-675-8098 or email Lunghealthstudybc@gmail.com
Radon mitigation
Health Canada recommends that homeowners consult a Radon Mitigation Professional certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) to determine the best radon reduction method. Visit their page to find a professional.
Home radon mitigation support
The Canadian Lung Association offers financial support for radon mitigation up to $1500 for individuals who have either been diagnosed with lung cancer or meet moderate to low-income eligibility. See program details and apply online for home radon mitigation support.
Radon reports
Through the free radon test kit program, we have provided 3,500 kits in the last five years (2020-2024) for residential testing and 683 for school testing.
Community projects
For an overview of project goals, achievements and radon kit distribution in our region see reports:
- Radon testing on Selected Okanagan Workplaces and Public Radon Awareness Outreach (2023-2024)
- Radon Outreach Contribution Program: Screening radon levels on selected Central Okanagan Schools and Public Radon Awareness (2020-2021)
- 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge - Community Reports (latest community reports)
School screening project
In September 2020, the Air Quality program received $20,200 in funding from Health Canada for a Radon Outreach Project. The goal of this project was to initiate screening of radon levels in selected schools in the Central Okanagan so school operators would learn how easy it is to test for radon, get radon on their agenda, mitigate where necessary to lower radon exposure to children and staff, and conduct an online campaign to raise radon awareness region-wide.
This was a collaborative project with School District 23, Independent Schools, Interior Health, the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists and Health Canada. Between 2020 and 2022, 55 elementary schools screened for radon.
Resources
- Take Action on Radon
- Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST)
- Cross-Canada Radon Survey
- Government of Canada - radon
- Interior Health - radon gas
- Canadian Lung Association - radon
- BC Lung Foundation - radon
- BC Centre for Disease Control - radon
Frequently asked questions
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My home is new. Should I still test for radon? |
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Yes, new homes will have a roughed-in mitigation system for potential future use and should still be tested for radon. New homes can test high as they are built tight, holding in radon gas, and levels can rise over time as concrete shrinks and the house settles. See Interior Health's Radon in your new home handout for more information. The Radon Provisions of the BC Building Code, 2018 have changed. Under Division B Section 9.13.4. Soil Gas Control requires rough-ins for a sub-slab depressurization system. Buildings still need to be tested after occupancy. If radon levels are high, completing a sub-slab depressurization system (adding a fan to the rough-in works) may be necessary to reduce radon levels to the lowest achievable level below the Canadian Guideline. |
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Selling a home? High radon levels must be disclosed |
| According to the BC Financial Services Authority’s Radon Precautions Guidelines, real estate professionals must advise sellers and landlords that radon levels of 200 Bq/m3 or more constitute a material latent defect and must be disclosed to buyers and tenants. |
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Where can I purchase a radon test kit? |
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Long-term (91 days) kits are recommended during cold months, as windows are closed and the cold weather can increase the amount of radon being drawn in from the soil. |
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How does the test kit work? |
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Long-term radon detectors are most commonly alpha track devices. Alpha track detectors contain a small piece of plastic that is etched or marked by the energy released from the radon decay process. Those marks on the plastic are then counted in the lab to determine the indoor radon level. |