A few months ago, we received information from the Government about radon gas. You get these things from time to time; suggestions on insulating your home, or getting regular medical checkups, or making sure you’re prepared for emergencies. While I can’t remember why we took note of this particular message, this one was the beginning of an emotional roller coaster were weren’t prepared for.
The information indicated that homeowners should check for radon because the gas is present, to varying degrees, in every Canadian home, and can pose serious health risks, including lung cancer. Really? The government information suggested that every home should perform a Radon test to find out what their levels are and whether remediation is in order, depending on the levels. What’s remediation?
I needed more information. It was time to enter another Google search rabbit hole and the deeper I went, the worse I felt and the more panicked I became.
Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can be found in soil, rocks, and water. It is produced by the decay of uranium and other radioactive elements that are present in the earth’s crust. Radon can enter homes and buildings through cracks in foundations, floor drains, and other openings. Not only that, but concrete is quite porous, as solid as it may look, so even if you don’t have visible cracks, the gas can still seep in.
Oh, did I mention that radon gas is dangerous? It is a known human carcinogen and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Long-term exposure to radon gas can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer and other health problems. Not only the Government of Canada, but United States EPA, and the World Health Organization (WHO), all recommend that homes and buildings be tested for radon gas and that action be taken if levels are found to be high.
It is important to test for radon gas, especially in homes and buildings that are located in areas where the soil and rock contain higher levels of radioactive elements. Trouble is, it’s hard to tell where those areas are. Radon movement in the soil can be hyperlocal. You can have dangerously high levels, but two blocks down the road, everything is peachy. There are simple tests that can be done to measure the levels of radon gas in a home or building, and if levels are found to be high, there are remediation techniques that can be used to reduce exposure.
There are lots of ways to test, from simple test kits you can buy from your local hardware store to fancy, and more expensive, electronic devices. The simple kits involve leaving the collector in a common area, letting it collect samples for a few months (typically 90 days) and sending it back to a centre for analysis. Those kits, while useful, aren’t the best. They’re also not reusable, so you can’t check to see if any remediation you choose to do has the desired effect other than buying another kit and starting testing all over again.
Those of you who know me, know that I’m geekily inclined and that I love gadgets. Obviously, I was going to look into a technological solution, not this “send it away and cross your fingers” approach. I wanted my information right now. After much research into what Radon test systems are best, I opted for a smart sensor system from Airthings (considered by many to be the gold standard) which dutifully started collecting information on radon, particulate matter, CO2, VOCs, etc. Then, we started dutifully monitoring the companion app on our phones. For the techno-curious, the device I chose was the Airthings 2960 View Plus. I bought mine from Amazon (
We had been living with this silent killer for the last 15 years. The fact that we were unaware of the danger didn’t make us feel any better. Worse. Now, we rarely check the monitor. If we get warnings, it’s to let us know that the CO2 levels are a tad high, and we should open a window and let the house breathe a little (no, opening windows doesn’t help with radon). Neither of us was thrilled about spending money we weren’t expensing to spend, but in the end, we considered it money well spent! Links Government of Canada on Radon US EPA on Radon World Health Organization on Radon
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon.html
https://www.epa.gov/radon
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/radon-and-health
