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Radon

Welcome to our radon testing information web site.  We provide radon testing services for residential and commercial buildings.

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring colorless, odorless gas that seeps out of the ground, into basements and moves to other areas of a building or home.  It can be found in soils and rocks containing uranium, graphite, granite, shale, phosphate and pitchblende.

Why is Radon a problem?

Radon decays into radioactive elements known as 'radon progeny' or 'radon daughters'.  Radioactive daughters float around in the air attached to dust particles.  When inhaled, the particles find their way into the bronchial air passages and stick to the surface. 

When these particles also change (“decay”), they emit a tiny burst of radiation that damages cells inside your lungs.  The result is lung cancer.

Where is Radon found?

Radon is prevalent in most parts of the country and is present in Ontario.  Your house may have it while the one next-door might not.  Fixing this is usually relatively inexpensive. 

Radon is second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer.  Breathing in 4 Pico Curies/L (pCi/L) (this is the international action level) of radon is equated to smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day or receiving over 200 chest x-rays per year.  The EPA has found that radon is responsible for over 20,000 deaths per year in the US.  Health Canada estimates that over 1,600 Canadians die each year from exposure to radon in their homes.

The effect of radon exposure is long term.  It does not normally make people feel poorly on a day-to-day basis.

Radon testing...it's easy and inexpensive!

Have your radon levels tested by our radon inspector today.

 

For more radon information see the US and Canadian government web sites below.

 

 

Did you know?
Smoking can increase the effects of radon ten fold.

Did you know?
Airborne dust particles can also increase the potential for exposure to radon.