Speaker
Description
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in our homes, is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. With nearly 1 in 5 Canadian homes exceeding Health Canada’s radon guideline level of 200 Bq/m3, radon exposure remains a critical public health issue that is responsible for over 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually in Canada. As part of its National Radon Program, Health Canada consistently reviews and updates national radon risk guidance and resources to adapt to the evolving radon landscape in Canada, ensuring that its actions are evidence-based and effectively mitigate this health risk.
Due to various factors affecting radon levels across Canada’s varied geography and climate, identifying data that directly answers key questions about Canadians' radon exposure can be challenging. Currently, Health Canada recommends Canadians test their home for 3-months during the heating season. This recommendation assumes that radon levels are at their highest during this period. However, there exists limited data that quantifies the extent, if at all, of the seasonal variation of residential radon levels throughout the various regions of Canada. To address this, the National Radon Program has been conducting year-round testing in homes since September, 2023.
Health Canada will present recent progress on the study of seasonal variations of radon levels across Canada. The primary objective is to measure the variation of radon levels in Canadian homes over a 12-month period. By collecting seasonal measurements, it can be determined if the current testing recommendation provides a reasonable estimate of the average annual radon level in a home. Based on the results, new guidance may be developed for radon testing outside the heating season, widening the testing window and ultimately making testing easier and more accessible to Canadians.
| Keyword-1 | Radon |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | Measurement |
| Keyword-3 | Built environment |