According to Health Canada’ s 2025 guideline for radon levels, the Canadian indoor radon guideline is 200 Bq/m3 and corrective action to lower the level within 1 year is recommended when a long-term test result indicates a radon level above 200 Bq/m3.
Radon
Key Messages
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- Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that forms naturally in soil and rock and can accumulate indoors.
- People who smoke face a sharply increased lung cancer risk when exposed to elevated levels of radon, rising to 1-in-3 compared with 1-in-20 in people who choose not to smoke (Health Canada, 2025).
- Introducing radon testing as an important preventive action for patients who smoke can help lower their lung cancer risk. People who choose not to smoke too can benefit from knowing their home’s radon levels.
- Elevated radon levels occur in Ottawa, across Ontario, and throughout Canada; no home is radon free, and testing is the only way to know a home’s level.
Resources for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Clinical Guidance & Educational Resources
- Guideline on Radon, 2025, Health Canada.
- Radon for health professionals. Understanding radon and protecting your patients, Health Canada, 2025
Clinic Resources
- Technical information on radon for health professionals. Includes resources such as brochures, infographics, and detailed guides which can be downloaded or ordered for patient education (Health Canada).
- Radon – Another Reason to Quit: downloadable poster (Health Canada).
- Help patients reduce their risk of lung cancer: downloadable poster (Take Action on Radon).
Accredited Medical Education (CME)
- Radon: Is it in your patient’s homes? Free 15-minute CME credit course on radon; print resources (McMaster University).
Radon in the home
- Radon in Your Home . Outlines health implications, testing, and how to take action, including how to access test kits in Ottawa (Ottawa Public Health).
- Radon - Reduction Guide for Canadians. (Health Canada).
- Radon: Testing your home for radon. Includes information on purchasing a radon test kit and finding a radon measurement professional (Health Canada).
- Tarion new home warranty program. Newly built homes with radon levels above the guideline may qualify for remediation under program.
- Radon Mitigation Grant Program. If unsafe levels are detected, patients may qualify for the from the Canadian Lung Association if diagnosed with lung cancer or experiencing financial hardship.
- Free test kit White Ribbon Radon Testing Program. For those diagnosed with lung cancer, a free radon test kit may be available through Take Action on Radon.
Smoking Cessation
- Quit Smoking: services in Ottawa (OPH).