How to Spot the Major Symptoms of Radon Poisoning

Posted in Radon Testing, on August 23, 2024

Radon gas is quickly becoming one of the most requested elements of air quality testing in Toronto. With greater awareness of radon and its long-term, toxic effects, SafeAir has seen an increase in requests for testing — and questions about what radon is and what its symptoms and effects are. Radon testing can be done as part of general home air quality testing or as a stand-alone service, and no matter which option you choose, the test is critical for you and your family’s long-term safety and comfort. In this article, the SafeAir team will share some of the common things about radon gas — where it comes from, what it does, and what you can do to ensure your safety. 

A Beginner’s Guide to Radon Gas 

Fifty years ago, radon gas wasn’t a concern during the post-war building boom. Across Ontario, communities were being built up, and families were moving in without any idea if their neighbourhood had an increased risk of radon gas exposure. But in the intervening years, this substance has become the second-most leading cause of lung cancer in North America — why? And how?

Radon gas is a natural product of uranium in the earth’s crust. Typically, it exits the earth and dissipates harmlessly into the atmosphere in quantities that bear no risk to human life. However, homes, especially those with sub-grade basements, often attract and capture radon gas as it comes out of the ground. It’s when radon gas becomes concentrated in our indoor air quality that we have to worry about it. 

Radon gas is a radioactive particle that has a half-life of 3.8 days; what this means is that radon reduces, or decays, in 3.8 days. During the process of decay, radon molecules burst, releasing a small surge of energy that is invisible to the senses. In the air, this surge is harmless, but in our lungs, it can cause irritation, inflammation, and, over a long period of exposure, scarring. 

Breathing in radon gas is the primary way that the human body is affected. Light, tasteless, odourless, and invisible, without home air quality testing you will never be able to detect whether or not you’re breathing in radon. 

Risk Factors for Radon Exposure

There are several ways that your risk for radon gas increases. Some industries and jobs (like mining) put you closer to natural sources of radon, but for most people in Toronto, it’s your home, rather than your workplace, that puts you at risk. 

Radon gas makes its way into homes for several reasons. The biggest reason is that basements create a pocket of negative pressure in the earth, which draws radon gas towards it on its journey to the surface. When your basement has things like cracks in the foundation, a dirt floor, old windows, or a sump pump, the radon gas can easily enter and become trapped. Radon can also enter through well water or stone elements like countertops or flooring. 

Symptoms of Radon Exposure

Unlike other common household contaminants like mold, there are no known symptoms of radon exposure until it’s too late, which is why we strongly recommend having your home tested for radon gas. After years of exposure, many people report symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest pain, trouble swallowing or respiratory complaints — which is too late. 

Stay Safe with Radon Testing

At SafeAir, we want to help you and your family avoid the long-term effects of radon exposure with accurate and safe testing. Radon levels fluctuate across the province, and living in a new house or condominium doesn’t guarantee your safety. The only way to know your risk is to test. 

Radon testing is a straightforward and passive procedure. A member of our team will come for a short visit to install the testing device (a small plastic monitor) in a hidden area of your home. It’ll take readings over a 3-6 month period, a length of time that helps even out fluctuations caused by weather, and then we’ll be back for another quick de-installation. All of SafeAir’s devices are sent to a third-party lab that returns results promptly. 

Once we know if and how much radon is present in your home, we’ll help you understand what the next steps are. Many different strategies reduce or eliminate radon gas and help return your home to a safe living environment. To add radon testing to your air quality testing in Toronto, contact SafeAir today. 

CALL NOW!