Radon gas

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas that forms naturally in the ground. It can seep into buildings through cracks in foundations and accumulate to dangerous levels indoors. Exposure to radon gas increases your risk of lung cancer. Long term exposure to radon is the leading risk factor for lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

Health Canada estimates that about 16% of lung cancer deaths are related to being exposed to radon in the home, with more than 3,000 lung cancer deaths related to radon annually. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 5 houses in Canada are at or above the current Canadian radon guideline of 200 Bq/m3.

The Canadian Cancer Society is committed to ensuring that Canadian residences and workplaces are free from radon gas. We believe that you shouldn’t be exposed to carcinogens at work, at home or in the environment. We believe people have the right to know if they are being exposed to cancer-causing substances.

We support public policies that will allow more Canadians to be able to test their home and take action to mitigate exposure if high levels of radon are found. Provinces and territories have a key role to play when it comes to access to testing, improving building standards, and providing protection to tenants.

The Canadian Cancer Society is calling on provinces and territories to implement the evidence-informed recommendations in the Government of Canada’s Radon Action Guide for Provinces and Territories, and for municipalities to implement the evidence-informed recommendations in the Government of Canada Radon Action Guide for Municipalities.