Back to SearchKINGSTON—Homeowners in the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington area may be eligible to receive a free test to measure the radon level in their homes. Starting October 1, 2018, eligible homeowners who are interested in participating in a radon testing study can apply for a free test through KFL&A Public Health at kflaph.ca/Radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium found 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. In confined spaces like a home, radon can build up to high levels becoming a health risk. The likelihood of high radon levels cannot be predicted by the age or location of a home; all homes are at risk.
Breathing in high levels of radon for many years can lead to lung cancer. In Canada, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke.
“The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test for it,” said Erin Hayes, Public Health Promoter at KFL&A Public Health. “We want to raise awareness of the risk of radon gas and to encourage homeowners to test their homes.”
Homeowners interested in receiving a free test and being part of the radon testing study will be required to complete a survey application. Survey applications are available online at kflaph.ca/Radon. The deadline to register for the radon testing study is November 8, 2018. There are limited tests available.
For more information about radon, visit kflaph.ca/Radon.
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