Updated November 2026 · Data: Health Canada Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2012), 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure · Sources
Radon is a concern in every province and territory. Health Canada’s national survey, published in 2012, estimated that 6.9% of Canadians lived in homes above the guideline of 200 Bq/m³. A larger study released in October 2024, led by the University of Calgary with Health Canada and CAREX Canada scientists, found that nearly 18% of Canadian homes are at or above 200 Bq/m³, more than double the 2012 estimate.
Radon by province and territory
| Province or territory | % of homes tested above 200 Bq/m³ | % above 600 Bq/m³ | Population-weighted % above 200 Bq/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 6.6% | 0.6% | 5.7% |
| British Columbia | 7.9% | 1.2% | 3.9% |
| Manitoba | 23.7% | 2.6% | 19.4% |
| New Brunswick | 24.8% | 6.1% | 20.6% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 5.9% | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Northwest Territories | 5.4% | 0.5% | 5.4% |
| Nova Scotia | 8.8% | 2.5% | 10.7% |
| Nunavut | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Ontario | 8.2% | 0.9% | 4.6% |
| Prince Edward Island | 3.5% | 0.0% | 3.5% |
| Quebec | 10.1% | 1.1% | 8.2% |
| Saskatchewan | 16.3% | 1.0% | 15.7% |
| Yukon | 19.6% | 5.8% | 19.6% |
Latest estimates by region (2024)
- Atlantic Canada: about one in three homes at or above 200 Bq/m³
- Central Canada (Ontario and Quebec): about one in six
- Prairies and Northwest Territories: about one in five
- Pacific Interior and Yukon: about one in three
- Pacific Coast: about one in 75
Source: 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities (University of Calgary news release, October 23, 2024). The study also notes that lifetime lung cancer risk rises by about 16% for every 100 Bq/m³ of long-term exposure.
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.
Sources
- Health Canada: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, Final Report (2012)
- University of Calgary: Growing number of Canadian households contain dangerous levels of radon gas (October 23, 2024)
- Health Canada: Government of Canada Radon Guideline
- Health Canada: Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings
- Health Canada: Reducing radon levels in your home
- C-NRPP: Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program