Why Every Home in Toronto Should be Tested for The Hidden Danger Known as Radon
Posted in Radon Testing, on February 14, 2025
Many decades of campaigning have resulted in great awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide in homes, saving thousands of lives across the province. But there’s another colourless, odourless gas that is putting Ontarians at risk, and we’re not nearly as well informed about it. The SafeAir team is trying to change this! While air quality testing in Toronto can help detect carbon monoxide, pollutants, mold, and other particles that affect air quality, we’d like to have more clients add radon testing to their requests. Radon is a serious but overlooked factor in air quality, but it’s easy to test for and can often be solved with minor interventions.
The Health Risks of Radon Exposure
Like carbon monoxide, radon gas is difficult to detect with the senses because it leaves no trace and has no odour. However, while the effects of carbon monoxide exposure are felt quickly, alerting you to danger, the effects of radon gas exposure cause long-term damage — once you become aware of your exposure, it’s usually too late.
After cigarette smoking, radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in Canadians. It comes from uranium buried deep in the earth’s core and floats up to the surface. Radon gas can collect in homes, especially basements, building up to harmful concentrations.
Radon gas primarily affects us through our respiratory system: we breathe in the radioactive particles, and they degrade in our lungs, causing inflammation and irritation that lead to the cellular changes that cause cancer. This is a well-known and studied effect, but the dangers are not well known to the public, probably because radon itself is invisible.
Why Toronto Homes are At Risk
Homes across Canada and Ontario are at risk of exposure to radon gas. In Toronto, homes may be more or less at risk depending on their age, neighbourhood, or basement.
Basements often have higher levels of radon gas because they have a different type of air pressure to the surrounding soil. Radon gas enters the home through cracks and gaps in the foundation, sump pumps, or when homes have dirt floors. People without basements can still be at risk, too — poor airflow is one of the reasons radon becomes trapped, but some types of decorative stone may actually contain radon and off-gas straight into the kitchen or bathroom.
It’s Critical to Test for Radon!
The only way to know if your home is at risk for radon gas is to have professional radon testing. At SafeAir, we can perform radon testing as a stand-alone service or as part of a broader environmental assessment. Because it lacks physical traits and leaves no trace, testing your home for radon gas is vital for ensuring you are not at risk.
If your home does test above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m3 guideline, there are several recommendations our team might make to help you reduce or eliminate your exposure. Some are very simple, such as sealing cracks in the foundation or installing an exhaust fan. Depending on the results of your radon test, you may need more extensive remediation efforts — but the SafeAir team can help you understand the results and walk you through your options.
How Radon Tests Work
Radon testing is a simple procedure that won’t disrupt your family life. Testing starts with the quick and simple installation of a device similar to a carbon monoxide detector in the lower level of your home. At SafeAir, we prefer to do 3-6 month radon tests to ensure accurate results, so this device stays in place for several months before we have another short visit to de-install it. The device is sent to a third-party lab for analysis, which we help you understand once the results are in.
Air quality testing in Toronto can help you solve allergies, improve sleep, and prevent harmful long-term exposure to things like radon gas. To learn more about SafeAir’s services or to book radon testing for your home or business, contact our team today!