Grey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) is reminding residents to test their homes for dangerous radon gas.
November is Radon Action Month in Canada, so GBPH is asking everyone to be vigilant and test for the potentially deadly radon gas that can build up in homes that get sealed up for winter.
Radon is an invisible, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is released into the environment when uranium – found in soil, rock, or water – breaks down.
When radon leaks into the outside environment it becomes diluted and is harmless. But if it leaks into a well sealed up home, especially during winter months, it can build up into dangerous levels.
Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of radon in the home may lead to lung cancer. Radon is second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer in Canadians, accounting for about 16 per cent of all cases annually.
There are two ways residents can test for radon in their homes. They can buy a do-it-yourself radon test kit or hire a radon measurement professional to test their home.
More information on radon testing is available at www.takeactiononradon.ca/test-for-radon and on Grey Bruce Public Health’s dedicated Radon webpage.