What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in the ground throughout the world. You cannot see, taste or smell it. Most buildings will contain some amount of radon gas, but the only way to know if levels are high is to conduct a radon test.
How does radon get indoors?
Radon takes the easiest path into buildings through rocks, soil, dirt and concrete floors and foundation seams. Heating and ventilation systems influence radon levels too. During the cooler months, windows and doors are often closed and rising warm air enables radon to escape from the ground indoors.
Source: Natural Resources Canada, contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Why care?
Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is the number one environmental cancer-causing agent. According to the radon potential map for British Columbia, the relative radon hazard for most of the Central Okanagan area is considered Zone 1-High.
- Central Okanagan Radon Test Kit Challenge Community Reports Results 2020
- Webinar Community Results 2020 - Aug. 18, 2021
The British Columbia Lung Foundation states that Canadians spend 90% of their day indoors, with about 70% at home and 20% at work or school. The air we breathe indoor can contain particulates, gases, allergens and fumes that can significantly impact our health in both the short and long term. Knowing the main indoor air pollutants, their sources, and how to reduce them are key to reducing harm to our health.
Health Canada recommends efforts should be taken to get radon to as far below the Canadian Guideline of 200 Bq/m3. To determine radon levels, buildings should be tested. Most buildings can reduce the radon to levels well below the guideline at reasonable costs.
Fall 2021 - Free radon test kit program
The Air Quality program of the Central Okanagan with the support of Interior Health, Take Action on Radon, the British Columbia Lung Foundation, the Vancouver Foundation and all local municipalities provided a limited number (300) FREE radon test kits and a radon awareness webinar to interested residents within the Central Okanagan.
Who qualifies for the free radon detection program?
Central Okanagan residents including property owners and tenants living in:
- City of Kelowna
- Regional District - Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West electoral areas
- City of West Kelowna
- District of Lake Country
- District of Peachland
- Westbank First Nation
A limited number (300) of test kits were available to residents who pre-registered for the 2021 testing program:
- one free radon detector test kit per property or rental unit
- pre-registration started October 12 and closed October 15 after all 300 available test kits were pre-assigned
- after 300 pre-registrations, residents will be put on a waiting list
| Process | Description | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Online registration opens |
Registration is first come-first served basis (50 kits per local government) Residents will receive an email confirming their registration has been received |
Oct. 12 to 18 |
| Detectors assigned and confirmed | Only the first 300 registrations will receive a second email confirming that ONE detector kit has been assigned to them | Oct. 20 to 29 |
| Radon awareness webinar |
Available to test kit recipients and the public Link to free Facebook Live Webinar |
Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. |
| Pick up radon detector test kit | Pick up at your local government Community location | Nov. 1 to 5 |
| Reassign and pick up of unclaimed detector test kits | Additional pre-registrations will be kept on a waiting list in case a detector test kit is not picked up and becomes available. In that case an email confirmation will be sent to people on the waiting list. | Nov. 8 to 12 |
| Deploy radon detector test kit | Follow the Instructions You must complete the Start/End Survey to receive your results |
Leave the detector in place for at least 100 days |
| Return and drop off radon test kit detectors | Return/drop off at local government community location where you picked it up | Feb. 14 to 25, 2022 |
| Registered residents living within: | Test kit pick up collection location Monday, Nov. 1 to Friday, Nov. 5 | Drop off / return after 100 days Feb. 14 to Feb. 25, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Westbank First Nation |
Community Services building |
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| City of West Kelowna |
West Kelowna City Hall |
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| District of Lake Country |
Municipal office |
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| City of Kelowna |
City Hall |
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| RDCO - Central Okanagan East / Central Okanagan West |
Regional District of Central Okanagan |
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| District of Peachland |
Peachland Community Centre |
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday |
Submitting tests
All test kits that are returned between February 14 to 25, 2022 will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Those participants that complete the mandatory Start/End Survey will receive their confidential test results in spring 2022.
If you missed the drop off dates - Your radon test kit can still be analyzed. You are responsible for the cost of mailing it to the lab for analysis - Address to be determined.
Test results
Health Canada and health experts recommend action should be taken to reduce radon exposure.
| Fix now | Fix soon |
|---|---|
|
If your radon levels are 600+ Bq/m3 |
If your radon levels are 200 to 600 Bq/m3 |
|
You should aim to reduce your radon within one year |
You should aim to reduce your radon within two years |
Find a certified radon professional to help fix the radon level in your home or business.
Participate in a Radon study
The BC Lung Foundation is conducting a new study to assess whether radon rough-ins in new homes are being built correctly. https://bc.lung.ca/radon-study
It is currently inspecting radon rough-in systems in homes in BC's Interior Health Authority region. If you participate, a professional radon mitigator will visit your home and conduct visual inspection. In return you will receive a report detailing the results. Note: BC Lung follows strict health and safety protocols.
Sign up to participate in the NEW RADON STUDY HERE
All confirmed participants will be entered to win an iPad
Please direct questions to Dr. Noah Quastel at nquastel@bclung.ca or 778-709-4496
School Screening Project 2020-2022
In September 2020, the Air Quality program successfully applied and received $20,200 in funding from Health Canada for a Radon Outreach Project. The project’s goal is: Through initiating screening of radon levels on selected schools in the Central Okanagan, school operators will 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 through and online campaign raise radon awareness region-wide.
This is a collaborative project with School District 23, Independent Schools, Interior Health, CARST and Health Canada and will see 55 elementary schools screened for radon in 2020-2022.
Frequently asked questions
My home is new. Should I still test for radon? |
|
It's always a good idea to have your house tested. Please see Interior Health's pdf on radon in your new home.
The Radon Provisions of the BC Building Code, 2018 changed. Under Division B Section 9.13.4. Soil Gas Control, there are requirements for a rough-ins for a subfloor depressurization system.
Homes still need to be tested after occupancy.
If radon levels are high, the completion of a subfloor depressurization system may be necessary to reduce the radon concentration to a level below the guideline specified by Health Canada. |
Buying a new or older home and you would like to know its radon levels? |
| In BC, according to the BC Financial Services Authority’s Radon Precautions Guidelines real estate professionals have the duty to 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. |
Where can I purchase a radon test kit? |
|
Given the large interest in radon testing in the Central Okanagan, BC Lung, Radon Environmental Management Corp and the Regional District of Central Okanagan Air Quality Program are providing a special offer to help more people participate in radon testing. We are offering to cover shipping costs for free (normally $12) for those who buy a Radtrack 2 from BC Lung’s website between October 22 to November 5. You may purchase a test kit from the BC Lung Foundation
The Regional District of Central Okanagan Air Quality Program will provide special drop boxes for detectors purchased from the BC Lung Association, but you will need to drop them off between February 14 and February 25, 2022. Please make sure you deploy your detector for at least 91 days. For participants who make use of this offer, you will save at least 33% off of the normal cost for purchasing a detector, shipping it to your home and sending it to the laboratory. STEPS FOR PURCHASED RADON KITS
If you miss the drop-off weeks (Feb 14-25, 2022) or if you deploy your detector after November 12, you will be responsible to pay for the shipping costs directly to the Laboratory:
Options:
Please note that long-term kits are recommended (91 days) during the heating season. |
How does the test kit work? |
|
Long term radon detectors are most commonly alpha track devices.
Alpha track detectors contain a small piece of plastic which gets ‘etched’ or marked by the energy that is released from the radon decay process. This mark on the plastic is from the same impact that can damage your lung tissue, however on the plastic inside the detector it leaves a mark that can be counted by the lab. |
Where do I send my radon test? |
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Your kit will have instructions on it with where to submit the radon detector. |
Where can I read more? |
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