Indoor radon
Radon is an odourless, colourless, and tasteless radioactive gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium found in some rocks, sediments, and water. Radon moves out of the ground and dilutes to harmless levels in the atmosphere, but it can accumulate to high levels in houses. High radon levels are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Radon can enter a home through openings in basement walls and floors. Radon concentrations in a home can be lowered by sealing these entry points, by depressurizing the sediment around home foundations, and by improving home ventilation.
Radon concentrations differ greatly throughout the Ottawa region depending mainly on the composition of the local bedrock or soil. While the only way to determine the actual concentration of radon in a home is by a direct measurement, geological maps showing the concentrations of uranium in rocks and soil at surface can be used to estimate potential indoor radon accumulation.
