Health Canada has declared November as “National Radon Action Month” to bring awareness to
the potential dangers of radon gas in the home. This naturally occurring, cancer-causing gas is
found in high levels in an alarming amount of properties across the Ottawa region, which is why Out of This World is urging all Ottawa homeowners to have their home’s tested for radon.
National Radon Action Month coincides with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and appropriately so; prolonged exposure to radon can cause all sorts of problems in the human body, with lung cancer being among the most common. Radon gas is the #1 leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and #2 for smokers, after tobacco. Health Canada states that this little-known health risk is responsible for more than 3200 Canadian deaths each year.
Surveys conducted by Health Canada indicate that approximately 7% of homes across the country have radon levels above the recommended action-level — but Ottawa families appear to be at a higher risk. Our radon service experts at Out of This World are finding that approximately 20% of Ottawa-area homes we test have radon levels above what Health Canada deems safe, though no level is truly safe.
With winter coming, November is the ideal time to start the radon testing process. We are seeing more elevated radon levels the closer we get to winter, due to the accumulation of the gas indoors as windows and doors stay shut. That’s why it’s important to start the 3-month testing process now.
Out Of This World has asked the city of Ottawa to officially declare November as Radon Awareness Month, in hopes to further educate Ottawa homeowners about radon gas and its health risks, and urges all Ottawans to take action and follow Health Canada guidelines.
Find out more when you watch our video! Then, give us a call to get on our schedule for radon testing in Ottawa soon!
