KFL&A Public Health encouraging residents to test for radon during Radon Action Month

During Radon Action Month, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health is encouraging area residents to test their homes for radon.

According to a media release from KFL&A Public Health, breathing in high levels of radon for many years can lead to lung cancer. In Canada, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Public Health said that the best time to test your home for radon is during the winter months when windows and doors remain closed. Radon testing is simple and inexpensive.

“People are spending more time at home, increasing risk of exposure to radon. Now, more than ever, it is important to test your home for radon,” said Erin Hayes, Public Health Promoter at KFL&A Public Health. “The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test for it.”

The local health agency said that radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils. “You can’t see, taste, or smell radon. It can enter buildings through cracks in foundation floors and walls, gaps in pipes, open floor drains, or any other area of exposed soil,” KFL&A Public Health said. “In confined spaces like a home, radon can build up to high levels becoming a health risk. The likelihood of high radon cannot be predicted by the age or location of a home; all homes are at risk.”

To learn more about radon and where to purchase a radon test, visit kflaph.ca/radon.