Radon Results – What’s Next? With warmer weather around the corner, as part of your spring cleaning activities, this is a good time to check on your radon test kit. If you started a radon test during the winter months, it may be time for you to mail it to the laboratory that will then send you your results. If your radon level is at 200 Becquerels/cubic metre (Bq/m3) or higher, you should take action to lower the radon level in your home as much as possible. Radon levels between 200 Bq/m3 and 600 Bq/m3 should be lowered within two years, and radon levels above 600 Bq/m3 should be lowered within one year. The higher the radon level, the greater the risk of lung cancer, especially if you are also a person who smokes or are exposed to second-hand smoke. If the radon level in your home is too high, there are a number of ways it can be lowered: Seal cracks and openings in the foundation of the home, such as sump pump openings, floor drains, or cracks on the floor or walls. Increase ventilation in your home with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). Contact a certified radon professional to install a pipe that will reverse the air pressure difference between the house and soil (called active soil depressurization). Before any work begins, check to see if the contractor is certified to conduct radon mitigation at http://www.radongas.org/Canada_Mitigation.html. For the past two years, Health Canada has tested approximately 18,000 homes across the country to get a better understanding of the variation in radon levels and to be better able to inform and help protect Canadians from the risks of long-term exposure. The final report containing radon results was recently released by Health Canada. In Ontario, approximately 8.2 per cent of homes had radon levels above the 200 Bq/m3 guideline, with more specific results being broken down by health region. Keep in mind that even if you live in an area that has reported low radon levels, it doesn’t mean that you have nothing to worry about – you should still test your home as radon levels can vary from home to home. For more information on radon, please call our Helpline at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), email [email protected], or visit our radon page at www.on.lung.ca/radon.