Updated November 2026 · Data: Health Canada Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2012), 2024 Cross-Canada Survey · Sources
In Health Canada’s national radon survey, 10.1% of homes tested in Quebec were above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m³, and 1.1% were above 600 Bq/m³. Weighted by population, Health Canada estimated that 8.2% of people in Quebec lived in homes above 200 Bq/m³ (national figure: 6.9%). The 2024 Cross-Canada survey, which found radon levels rising across the country, estimates high radon in Central Canada: about one in six homes.
Regional results are not your home’s level. Neighbouring homes can have very different radon levels. The only way to know yours is a long-term test.
Radon by health region in Quebec
| Health region | Homes tested | Above 200 Bq/m³ | Above 600 Bq/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Région du Bas-Saint-Laurent | 171 | 14.0% | 1.7% |
| Région du Saguenay – Lac-Saint- Jean | 72 | 2.8% | 1.4% |
| Région de la Capitale-Nationale | 160 | 8.8% | 2.5% |
| Région de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec | 59 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Région de l’Estrie | 54 | 9.3% | 0.0% |
| Région de Montréal | 73 | 6.9% | 0.0% |
| Région de l’Outaouais | 62 | 12.9% | 4.8% |
| Région de l’Abitibi- Témiscamingue | 69 | 4.3% | 0.0% |
| Région de la Côte-Nord | 106 | 3.8% | 0.0% |
| Région du Nord-du-Québec | 224 | 5.8% | 0.0% |
| Région de la Gaspésie – Îles-de- la-Madeleine | 174 | 25.3% | 3.5% |
| Région de la Chaudière- Appalaches | 175 | 13.1% | 0.6% |
| Région de Laval | 107 | 12.1% | 0.9% |
| Région de Lanaudière | 76 | 3.9% | 0.0% |
| Région des Laurentides | 78 | 10.3% | 1.3% |
| Région de la Montérégie | 112 | 8.9% | 0.0% |
| Région du Nunavik | 9 | 11.1% | 0.0% |
| Région des Terres-Cries-de-la- Baie-James | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Highest shares above 200 Bq/m³: Région de la Gaspésie – Îles-de- la-Madeleine (25.3%), Région du Bas-Saint-Laurent (14.0%), Région de la Chaudière- Appalaches (13.1%).
Radon test results by community in Quebec
The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge, run by Take Action on Radon (a Health Canada-funded initiative), gives communities long-term 91-day alpha track tests and publishes a report for each one. These are recent results, mostly from 2019 to 2026, and are a useful local snapshot, but each is based on a limited number of volunteer homes.
| Community | Homes tested | Above 200 Bq/m³ | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaconsfield | 39 | 41% | |
| Beloeil | 108 | 23% | |
| Candiac | 282 | 9% | |
| Cantley | 62 | 47% | |
| Carleton Sur Mer | 90 | 33% | |
| Gaspé | 235 | 60% | |
| Lorraine | 167 | 10% | |
| Maria | 55 | 78% | |
| Percé | 93 | 22% | |
| Prévost | 80 | 35% | |
| Saint Augustin de Desmaures | 189 | 17% | |
| Saint Joseph du Lac | 186 | 33% | |
| Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac | 50 | 10% | |
| Sherbrooke | 92 | 10% | |
| Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue | 44 | 34% | |
| Vaudreuil-Dorion | 74 | 31% |
Highest shares above the guideline (40+ homes tested): Maria (78%), Gaspé (60%), Cantley (47%).
How to test your home
- Health Canada recommends a long-term test of at least 91 days, with at least 91 days during the heating season (fall and winter), when radon levels are usually highest.
- Test the lowest level of the home where someone spends at least four hours a day.
- Long-term test kits are sold by hardware stores, online and by some health units and lung associations.
If your level is above 200 Bq/m³
The Canadian guideline is 200 Bq/m³ (about 5.4 pCi/L; the U.S. EPA action level of 4 pCi/L is about 148 Bq/m³). If your result is above 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends taking corrective action to lower the level within one year, and hiring a professional certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). The most common fix is sub-slab depressurization: a pipe and fan draw radon from under the foundation and vent it outside.
Frequently asked questions
Is radon a problem in Quebec?
Yes. In Health Canada’s survey, 10.1% of homes tested in Quebec were above 200 Bq/m³, and the 2024 Cross-Canada survey found radon levels rising nationally. Any home can have high radon, so testing is the only way to know.
What is the radon guideline in Canada?
200 Bq/m³ in the normal occupancy area of a home. If a long-term test is above that, Health Canada recommends fixing the home within one year.
How do I test for radon in Quebec?
Use a long-term test kit for at least 91 days during the heating season, placed in the lowest lived-in level. If the result is above 200 Bq/m³, hire a C-NRPP certified professional.
Compare all provinces and territories: Radon in Canada.
Sources
- Take Action on Radon: 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge community reports (retrieved November 2026)
- Health Canada: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, Final Report (2012), Tables 1, 2, 3 and 5
- University of Calgary: 2024 Cross-Canada radon survey news release (October 23, 2024)
- Health Canada: Government of Canada Radon Guideline
- Health Canada: Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings
- C-NRPP