![]() Health Canada recommends homes be tested for a minimum of three months, ideally during the winter (ex: October to April) when indoor radon levels are generally highest. How can I find out the radon level in my home? Health Canada has estimated that about 7 per cent of Canadians and about 19 per cent of Manitobans are living in homes above the radon guideline of 200 Bq/m3 (Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes: Final Report. Historically, Manitoba has had higher radon values in buildings than national averages. Radon levels may also vary within one region. In Manitoba, like other areas of Canada and the rest of the world, the natural radioactivity of the soil varies from region to region. What are the levels of radon in Manitoba? Report of the Radon Working Group on a New Radon Guideline for Canada).Īnyone who has health concerns about radon exposure should contact their health care provider or call Health Links–Info Santé at 1-88.įor information and resources for quitting smoking call the Smokers Helpline at 1-87 or visit ^ back to top Lifetime Probability of Getting Lung Cancer The risk for a smoker exposed to radon levels of 800 Bq/m3 over the same time period increases to 30 per cent, compared to five per cent for a non-smoker at 800 Bq/m3. Manitoba’s lung cancer rates are close to the national average.Īs illustrated in the table below, Health Canada estimates that a smoker exposed to radon levels of 200 Bq/m3 for 70 years has a 17 per cent lifetime chance of developing lung cancer, compared to two per cent for a non-smoker. Each year, over 600 deaths from lung cancer occur in the province. Smoking contributes to the vast majority of lung cancer cases in Manitoba and poses a much greater risk than exposure to radon gas. ![]() No other health effects have been shown to be associated with exposure to radon in indoor air. The risk from radon exposure is long term and is associated with the level of radon, how long a person is exposed and their smoking habits.Īccording to Health Canada, exposure to high levels of radon can increase your risk for lung cancer, especially in people who smoke. If radon levels are above the Health Canada guideline, will people get cancer? Radon levels can vary from building to building, or even room to room. Occasionally higher levels can be found on other floors. Generally, radon levels are highest in the basement. Radon gas can enter a building through cracks or gaps in the walls and foundation. The guideline of 200 Bq/m3 or less is meant for areas of the home where someone spends more than four hours per day on an ongoing basis. The Health Canada guideline for indoor radon refers to the average level found over a year of monitoring. Radon levels can change from season to season and even day to day in the same room or space. Health Canada recommends that the average annual level of radon in the air in a normal living area should not be greater than 200 Bq/m3. Radon is measured in becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3), which is a measure of radioactivity. ![]() What are the Health Canada guideline levels of indoor radon? ![]() Long-term exposure to high levels of radon in the home may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. When radon enters homes and buildings, it can reach levels that may pose a risk to health. Since radon is a gas, it can easily move through the soil and enter the air we breathe. It comes from uranium as it breaks down in soil and rocks. Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. How can I reduce the levels of radon in my home?.How do I test the radon levels in my home?.How can I find out the radon level in my home?. ![]() What are the levels of radon in Manitoba?.If radon levels are above the Health Canada guideline, will people get cancer?.What are the Health Canada guideline levels of indoor radon?. ![]()
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