01/29/2026
Radon has been in the news lately — and for good reason
Recent CBC coverage has put a renewed spotlight on radon, an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors and is now recognized as a significant contributor to lung cancer in Canada — including among non-smokers.
One of the key takeaways from the recent articles is that radon risk is widespread, often underestimated, and highly variable. Two neighbouring homes can have very different radon levels, and the only way to know your risk is to test.
From a building and environmental health perspective, this isn’t new information — but it is an important reminder. Radon is a long-term exposure issue, and meaningful assessment relies on proper testing, thoughtful interpretation of results, and an understanding of how building characteristics influence indoor air quality.
At CM3 Environmental, radon is something we’ve been assessing and advising on for years as part of broader indoor air quality and building health work. Our role is typically to help clients:
• Understand when and where testing makes sense
• Interpret results in the context of health guidelines
• Identify practical, evidence-based mitigation options where needed
If the recent media coverage has you thinking about radon — whether as a homeowner, building owner, or facility manager — that’s a good thing. Awareness is the first step, and informed decisions are the goal.
A long-awaited update to Canada's national building code requires newly built homes to include a type of radon mitigation system. But what about the millions of existing homes that are at risk of having high radon levels? And how do you know if your own house is a danger zone?
