Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas which occurs as uranium decays. It is found all over the world in different concentrations, and it originates from the ground. Sometimes radon levels are higher inside buildings, especially those without special ventilation.
Health Canada set a threshold of 200Bq/m3 for the level above which radon remediation is recommended. That means, if your house tests for more than that number, you can and should try to lower that number. High amounts of radon that are breathed in over a long time are believed to contribute to lung cancer. Note, that it is well within our technology today to lower radon levels in a home.
It happens that there is a fair amount of radon in southern British Columbia, especially on the Lower Mainland. The amounts of radon appear to increase as you travel further inland and decrease as you get closer to the ocean. That said, even in one specific town there can be a big difference in radon levels just between one building and its next-door neighbour. How must radon is in the building depends on where the building is and how the foundation is constructed.
Since the presence of too much radon can be considered a health hazard, more and more home inspectors are offering the service of radon detection as part of the home inspection package. Detecting radon is definitely something worth considering for as large a purchase a home.
For a home inspection on the Lower Mainland, give us a call at (778) 788-5301. This is our business and area of expertise.
The Inspectors is a group of very experienced home inspectors who bring reliability and integrity to the practice of home inspection. These inspectors follow closely the established standards of the Canadian National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about home inspection, we encourage you to call us at (778) 788-5301.