Radon Testing

Radon testing in Public Schools Branch schools

In fall 2022, as a proactive measure, the Public Schools Branch began work in collaboration with Health Canada on a testing plan to measure radon levels in schools in the province to help keep children and staff safe. Over a 3-year period, all PSB schools will be tested following Health Canada’s Guide for Radon Measurements in Public Buildings.

Facts about the Public Schools Branch’s radon testing program:

• Radon does not pose an immediate danger to health. It’s only a concern if there’s prolonged exposure to high concentrations over many years.
• Each school being tested has detectors placed throughout the school.
• Health Canada recommends testing for at least 3 months during the “heating season”.
• Almost all homes and buildings in Canada have trace amounts of radon.
• Since radon levels change from hour to hour and from day to day, the radon test provides an estimate of the average level of radon in our buildings. The longer the test, the more accurate the estimate of the average annual level.

What is radon?

All homes and buildings have some level of radon and any building can have high radon levels regardless of geographic location. The only way to determine radon levels is to test, which is why it's important that all schools are tested.

Radon is a naturally occurring colourless, odourless radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the ground and can enter buildings through cracks and unsealed openings in basements or foundations. You can't see it or smell it.

Measurements for radon are measured in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). According to Health Canada’s Guide for Radon Measurements in Public Buildings, recommended levels of radon concentration for acceptable indoor air quality are as follows:

• Below 200 Bq/m3 – acceptable
• Between 200 Bq/m3 and 600 Bq/m3 – remediate within 2 years
• Above 600 Bq/m3 – remediate within 1 year

Recent test results

The results for the 2023-2024 school year all had acceptable levels below the 200 Bq/m3 range as per Health Canada guidelines. None of these schools require mitigation measures.

During the 2022-2023 school year, the following schools were slightly above Health Canada’s recommended levels for radon:

• Bluefield High - Mitigation Implemented
• Kensington Intermediate Senior High - Mitigation Implemented
• Westwood Primary - Mitigation Implemented
• West Royalty Elementary - Mitigation Implemented

Next steps

The Public Schools Branch has begun the process to complete remediation work at these schools within the 2-year timeframe recommended by Health Canada. We’ll then re-test these schools to ensure radon levels are below the recommended levels.

We’ll continue to ensure radon levels at all schools remain within levels recommended by Health Canada and plan to re-test schools if:

• there’s work done on a school exterior, foundation or basement;
• seismic activity affects the school building;
• the ground or basement floors are renovated; or
• radon remediation work has been done in a school.

Schools

Radon testing of the next PSB schools is scheduled to begin during the 2024-2025 school year. These school communities will receive more information before testing begins.

Testing at home

To learn more about how you can test in your home or to find out more about radon and radon testing visit http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/radon.