New Brunswick has the highest radon levels in Canada. Is your home safe?
One in four homes has levels above the Canadian guidelines.
New Brunswick has the highest radon levels in Canada. Is your home safe?
In the Workplace
Canadian Guidelines
In the Workplace
While the study did not evaluate the levels of radon in New Brunswick workplaces, it is expected that radon exposure could be an issue in some workplaces. The map of New Brunswick above provides an overview of Health Canada’s test results for our province.
Risk of Exposure
Canadian Guidelines
In the Workplace
Our team of inspectors has years of experience and knowledge in the field. We use state-of-the-art equipment and tools to provide you with accurate and reliable inspection services.
When inhaled, radon gas can irradiate sensitive lung tissue, increasing your risk of lung cancer. The higher the concentrations and the longer the exposure, the higher the risk of cancer.
“Health Canada estimates a non-smoker exposed to elevated levels of radon over a lifetime has a 1 in 20 chance of developing lung cancer. If a smoker is exposed to the same level of radon over a lifetime, the risk increased to a 1 in 3 chance"
Canadian Guidelines
Canadian Guidelines
Canadian Guidelines
The Canadian government recommends remedial measures be taken in a dwelling when the average annual radon concentrations exceed 200Bq/m3 in the lowest livable area.
EPA guidelines in the United States is to be below 148Bq/m3 and World Health is to be below 100Bq/m3
Our Services
Measurement
MRC offers radon measurement services for short term (48hrs), long term (91 days), and Real Estate Sales (duplicate testing procedures). Our certified measurement providers will follow the guidelines to give you proper results. Radon levels are generally the highest in the winter months because the ground pressures and stack effect are at their greatest. We recommend everyone complete a long term test in the lowest livable area in the home, October through to April. So remember to test any building where you spend time, as New Brunswick has the highest radon levels in Canada.
Real Estate Sales
We recommend a real estate radon test from a certified measurement provider for all real estate sales. Duplicate testing, in closed house conditions with tamper resistant features will give you an accurate indication of the current radon levels for that time frame. Depending on what radon levels the purchaser feel comfortable with, this would give them the option to include a Mitigation system in their offer. All real estate short term tests fall under EPA & Canada guidelines, giving you accurate results for that time. A long term test is recommended by health Canada, but time isn’t an option in real estate sales.
Mitigation
Radon enters your home because the pressure in the ground beneath your home is greater than the pressure inside your home. Creating negative pressure in specific areas and using different systems that gather radon and other soil gases before they enter the building envelope and exhausting them outside, is the most effective way of reducing radon concentrations in homes. Our certified mitigation providers have 100% success rate in reducing radon to safe levels.
Active Soil Depressurization Systems (ASD) is the most effective way to reduce radon entry into buildings. They collect soil gases and exhaust them outside to a safe location. However, not all homes are built the same, so each system is determined based on the type of foundation. For example: Sub Slab Depressurization, Sub Membrane Depressurization, Sump/Tile Depressurization, Baseboard Depressurization, Block Wall Depressurization, Crawl Space Depressurization.
Diluting radon levels is another way of lowering concentrations in the home. Increasing fresh air with your heat recovery ventilator (HRV) can help dilute radon gas by small amounts, but it does not stop its entry.
Installing HEPA filters with forced air furnaces allows the negative charged ions to stick to the filter, reducing the amount of air bourne Radon Decay Products in the house. However, this doesn’t stop radon entry into the home.
New Home Construction
Every new residential & commercial building should be built with radon resistant features to reduce radon gas exposure. MRC Inspect & Certify Passive Radon Systems for New Construction. A properly installed Passive Radon System in new home construction can reduce radon levels up to 52% and still have Energy Efficiency.
Health Canada
Find more information at the links below
