What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in the ground worldwide. 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 second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, and the number one environmental lung cancer-causing agent. 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, as Canadians spend 90% of their day indoors. The air we breathe indoors can significantly impact health in both the short and long term. Health Canada notes that exposure to high levels of radon increases the risk of developing cancer.
Radon levels in most buildings can be reduced at reasonable costs. To determine radon levels, buildings should be tested.
How does radon get indoors?
Radon takes the easiest path into buildings through rocks, soil, dirt/concrete floors and foundation seams. Heating and ventilation systems also influence radon levels. During the cool months, windows and doors are often closed, and rising warm air enables radon to escape from the ground to inside buildings.
Source: Natural Resources Canada, used under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Free radon test kit program
Registration and waitlist spots for the 2024/25 session are currently full.
No area is radon-free, and elevated radon levels can be found in all types of buildings - homes, workplaces, schools, leisure places. All Central Okanagan residents, including work and leisure places, property owners, and renters, are eligible to participate in the free radon test kit program.
The The RDCO Air Quality program provides free test kits for residents with support from Health Canada, Interior Health, Take Action on Radon, BC Lung Foundation, BC Centre for Disease Control, and all partner municipalities.
| Free radon test kit - 2024/25 session | ||||||||||||||||
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Radon test results will be emailed to participants, starting April 18. Please check your junk/spam folders. For the 2024/25 session, 440 radon test kits will be available. Testing is recommended over at least 91 days during the heating season. The deadline for registration is Monday, November 4, 2024. There is a limit of one kit per property. Kits are assigned on first-come, first-serve basis, but are evenly distributed throughout the region. Applicable registrants will receive an email to confirm they have been assigned a radon kit (be sure to check your inbox and junk folder). Unclaimed kits will be assigned to applicants on the waiting list. Participants must complete a mandatory start and end survey. The laboratory requires both surveys to provide confidential test results. Register online if you (or a family member/friend) can pick-up and drop-off your 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. |
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Program timeline |
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Community collection locations |
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Pick-up kits from Tuesday, November 12 to Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Drop-off kits from Monday, March 3 to Friday, March 7, 2025 Locations:
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Understanding your test results |
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Health Canada and health experts recommend prompt action should be taken to reduce radon exposure:
Guide to understanding your test results. Find a certified radon professional to help fix the radon level in your home or business. |
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 3,064 kits 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 Central 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 is 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
| Recorded webinars |
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Frequently asked questions
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My home is new. Should I still test for radon? |
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Yes, new homes should be tested for radon. New homes can test high as they are built tight, holding in radon gas, and levels can rise in 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 subfloor depressurization system. Homes still need to be tested after occupancy. If radon levels are high, completing a subfloor depressurization system (adding a fan to the rough-in works) may be necessary to get radon to as low as reasonably possible below the Canadian Guideline. |
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Buying 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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Kits may be purchased through local home improvement retailers. Or browse suppliers
Long-term (91 days) kits are recommended during heating season, in the winter. |
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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 which gets etched or marked by the energy that is released from the radon decay process. Those marks on the plastic can be counted in the lab. |