In US, a radon level of 4 pCi/L - picocuries (equivalent to 150 Bq/m3) indicates an action level. However in Canada, 800 Bq/m3 - becquerels per cubic metre (equivalent to 22 pCi/L) is the action level, much higher than the US and many other countries.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The following are frequently asked questions about radon and their
answers:
Q.We occasionally notice an unusual smell in our basement.
Could it be due to radon?
A. No. Radon has no odour.
Q.Food items that we have stored in the basement have
spoiled. Is radon the cause?
A. No. Radon is chemically inert and cannot react with things and
spoil them.
Q.Shortly after moving into our home, several members
of our family developed persistent coughs. Could
radon be the reason?
A. No. Exposure to radon is not associated with persistent coughs.
Q.I have recently developed headaches which my doctor
cannot explain. Could radon be the cause?
A. No. The only known health effect from radon is an increased
risk of developing lung cancer.
Q.Should I be concerned about radon in my children’s
school or my workplace?
A. There has been only limited testing for radon in schools and
workplaces in most regions of Canada. Preliminary studies suggest
that schools and large public buildings usually have lower
radon levels than homes in the same community. However, the
only sure way to know whether a school or workplace has elevated
radon levels is to test.
Q. Is radon more of a problem in older or newer
homes?
A. The age of a home has not been found to be a reliable indicator
of whether it will have high radon levels.
Q. My neighbour’s house was tested and had high
radon levels. Does this mean that the radon levels
in my home will also be high?
A. Not necessarily. Radon levels can vary significantly even in
similar homes that are built close to one another. You should
test your home to be sure of its radon level.
Q. My house has high radon levels. Can it be fixed?
How much will it cost?
A. Virtually all homes can have their radon levels significantly
lowered. Although costs can vary considerably, experience has
shown that reducing radon in most homes can cost from a few
hundred dollars to about three thousand dollars.
Q. I intend to purchase (or sell) a house, what are my
options regarding radon testing?
A. Your choices include:
•Disregard or ignore any potential problem.
•When listing the home for sale, the seller could indicate to
their broker whether the home has been tested for radon and,
if it has, what the test results were.
•The purchaser could make their offer conditional on testing by
an approved contractor to indicate whether the radon levels
are acceptable (the purchaser would pay for the testing). If the
levels are too high, the offer becomes null and void.
•The purchaser could make an offer that includes a hold-back of
a specified amount of money pending test results. If the test
results are above an acceptable level, the hold-back can be
used to compensate the purchaser for expenses to reduce the
radon levels.
•The purchaser could make an offer lower than would be normal
because of high test results.
Each of the above approaches has potential advantages and disadvantages.
Consult your realtor and lawyer for specific advice.
Q. I am going to build a new home. Can the soil be
tested for radon before construction?
A. The radon concentration in the soil can be measured.
Unfortunately, these tests can be expensive and with present
technology are not a reliable predictor of what the radon levels
will be in a new house.
Q. Should I test our water supply for radon?
A. You should always test the air in your home first. If the radon
levels are high and you use water from a well, a radon test of
the water may be worthwhile.
More info about radon gas:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/rpb/pdf/radoneng.pdf