Radon action guide for provinces and territories: Testing, outreach, engagement and professional certification

On this page

• Testing, databases and mapping
• Education and awareness
• Recognizing certified radon professionals

Testing, databases and mapping

Canadian guidance and protocols on testing and mitigation

• Government of Canada Radon Guideline

Guides for the general public on radon testing and mitigation

• Radon - Reduction Guide for Canadians (Health Canada)
• Testing for Radon (Take Action on Radon)
• Testing for Radon (C-NRPP)
• Reducing Radon (Take Action on Radon)
• Steps to Reduce Radon (C-NRPP)

Technical guidance and studies on testing and mitigation

• Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings (Homes) (Health Canada)
• Guide for Radon Measurements in Public Buildings (Schools, Hospitals, Care Facilities, Detention Centres)(Health Canada)
• Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes - Final Report (Health Canada)
• Reducing Radon Levels in Existing Homes: A Canadian Guide for Professional Contractors (Health Canada)
• Summary Report on Active Soil Depressurization (ASD) Field Study (Health Canada)
• Residential Radon Mitigation Actions Follow-Up Study: Public Summary (Health Canada)
• Radon mitigation options for existing low-rise residential buildings. CAN/CGSB-149.12-2017 (Canadian General Standards Board)
• Radon control options for new construction in low-rise residential buildings. CAN/CGSB-149.11-2019 (Canadian General Standards Board)

Testing as awareness

• Take Action on Radon 100 Test Kit Challenge
  • This Health Canada supported campaign distributes 100 test kits to approximately 20 communities per year.
• Yukon Radon Awareness Campaign
  • The Yukon Housing Corporation, in partnership with Yukon Lung Association, Health Canada, and Yukon Health and Social Services delivered a radon awareness campaign that included free radon kits and testing in remote communities (2019 - present).
• Donna Schmidt Lung Cancer Prevention Society
  • In British Columbia, this non-profit, volunteer driven society, provides radon test kits through the library offices of the Regional District of Central Kootenay in Creston, Nakusp, and Nelson.

Community testing initiatives

These initiatives aim to assess radon prevalence in a community through sample testing of homes and other buildings (ranging from approximately 400 to 1,100 tests depending on community characteristics). They also improve awareness.

Ontario Health Units, in support of policy changes related to building codes. Examples include:

• Hamilton Public Health
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
• Windsor-Essex Health Unit
• York Region Public Health
• BC Lung Association, Radon Community Testing: BC Municipalities and Regional Districts

Citizen science projects

• Evict Radon
  • This includes significant public education and outreach materials.
• Simon Fraser University Citizen Science Project for Radon Gas

Library lending programs

Ontario

• Thunder Bay Public Library
• Saul Ste. Marie Public Library
• Essex County Public Library
• Hamilton Public Library

Alberta

• Edmonton Public Library
• Red Deer Public Library
• Parkland Regional Public Library
• Marigold Library System
• Strathmore Municipal Library

Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia Library Service

Prince Edward Island

• PEI Library Service

British Columbia

• Kootenay’s Library Federation
• North Shore and Sunshine Coast Libraries
• Okanagan Region Libraries
• Thompson-Nicola Region Libraries

Health Canada has a Radon Library Lending Program Guide. Available on request, send email to radon@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Database and mapping initiatives

Public maps in Canada

• Health Canada Radon Map
• Nova Scotia Radon Map
• C-NRPP Radon Database and Map
• BC Centre for Disease Control Radon Map

International examples

• EPA Map of Radon Zones
• United Kingdom Maps of Radon

• Connaître le potentiel radon de ma commune (République Française. Institut de Radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire)
• Radon in the soil and air in Germany (German Federal Office for Radiation Protection)

• WHO Existence of National Radon Map

Other maps, data sets and working groups

• Radon and Thoron Data from Canadian Homes
• British Columbia Centre for Disease Control BC Radon Data Repository
• Canadian Radon Mapping Working Group
• Radon Environmental: Mapping Radon Risk (for purchase)
• United Kingdom Radon Data: Radon Potential Dataset (British Geological Survey)

Education and awareness

A key component of addressing radon is ensuring that people know that it is a health risk and have the tools to act to remedy it. Many government agencies in Canada and around the world have radon education programs, information portals and outreach resources.

Radon web pages

Canada (Federal)

• Take Action on Radon Resources for Stakeholders
• Health Canada Radon Resources

Canada (Provincial and Territorial)

• Public Health Ontario
• Cancer Care Ontario, Risk of Residential Radon Varies Geographically
• Health Link BC
• Manitoba Health
• Nova Scotia Environmental Health

Canada (Municipal and Regional)

• Peterborough Public Health
• Algoma Public Health
• Grey Bruce Public Health
• Toronto, Ontario
• Edmonton, Alberta
• Guelph, Ontario
• Chelsea, Quebec

International

• European Radon Association
• Ireland Environmental Protection Agency
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• Public Health England

Government resolutions

Educational programs can be strengthened by broad resolutions, such as legislation and declarations recognizing November as Radon Action Month in Canada.

• Health Canada Radon Action Month and Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• Edmonton, Alberta
• Chelsea, QC

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency declares January Radon Action Month and the Center for Disease Control focuses on Radon Awareness Week in late January.

Targeting at-risk audiences

• The Canadian Partnership for Children’s and Health provides radon information targeted at families.
• Health Canada targets smokers with RADON - Another Reason to Quit

Public health studies

Public Health Ontario undertook specific studies on the Environmental Burden of Cancer. This was accompanied by an academic article, Lung cancer risk of radon in Ontario, Canada: how many lung cancers can we prevent?, and production of accessible materials, Public Health Ontario: Radon Risks and Realities. A further result was the incorporation of radon education and awareness into Ontario’s Public Health Standards.

Courses for professionals

• Continuing credit courses for real estate agents are provided by the Alberta Real Estate Council, British Columbia Real Estate Association and the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission.
• McMaster University, together with Health Canada, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Clean Air Partnership, have designed a free, certified program for doctors.
• C-NRPP Radon Training for Building Professionals (including Municipal Inspectors): Controlling Radon in New Canadian Homes (CRNCH): CNRPP-EL-9
• C-NRPP Certification for Radon Measurement Professionals
• C-NRPP Certification for Radon Mitigation Professionals

Radon laws that mandate governments to make educational materials

Alberta’s Radon Awareness and Testing Act, SA 2017, c R-2.5 (not yet signed into force), requires the government to develop educational materials explaining the health risks associated with exposure to radon for the public, and for purchasers in residential real estate transactions. The materials are to be developed in consultation with not-for-profit organizations, other levels of government and other stakeholders. They will identify methods of testing for radon and ways to reduce the risks of exposure to radon and encourage homeowners to test and mitigate. There are also provisions for government to communicate with the public, implement a public awareness campaign, partner with not-for-profit organizations to distribute educational materials; provide educational materials for use in schools; and other methods.

Eight U.S. States have similar laws mandating public education, including:

• California Bus. & Prof. Code § 10084.1
• Colorado Rev. Stat. 25-11-114(2)
• Florida Stat. Ann. § 404.056 (3)
• Montana Code Ann. § 75-3-605
• New Hampshire H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 125:9 (X)
• Utah UT Code Ann. § 26-7-7
• Virginia Code Ann. § 32.1-229
• Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes § 254.34 (h)

Recognizing certified radon professionals

Professional certification requirements 

In the United States, radon has been treated primarily as an issue of consumer protection. One outcome is that a central emphasis has been on mandatory certification of radon professionals. The following Table lists states with requirements for radon certification and the applicable statutes and/or codes.

Table 4: US states with mandatory certification for radon professionals

State	Radon certification statute and/or codes
California	Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code. Radon Certification. Sec. 106750 - 106795
Connecticut	Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. Sec. 20-420
District of Columbia	D.C. Code Ann. Sec. 28-4201
Florida	Fla. Stat. Ann. Sec. 404.056 (2)
Illinois	Ill. Ann. Stat. Ch. 420 Sec. 44/25. Radon Industry Licensing Act.  Ill. Ann. Stat. Ch. II 422.10. Regulations for Radon Service Providers
Indiana	IN Code § 16-41-38-2 (2019) IN. Code Ann. 5.1-1-22
Iowa	Iowa Code Ann. Sec. 64144.3(136B). Radon Testing
Kansas	Kan. Stat. Ann. Sec. 48-16a01. Radon Certification Law
Kentucky	KY. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 211.9101- 211.9135
Maine	ME. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22 Radon Registration Act Sec. 772 to Sec 784
Maryland	MD Env Code § 8-305 (2018)
Minnesota	Minnesota Statutes Sec. 144.4961 Minnesota Radon Licensing Act.
Montana	Mont. Code Ann. Sec. 75-3-603. Montana Radon Control Act, Radon Testing and Mitigation Proficiency Listing Requirements
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-121 (kk)
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 310-A:189-a
New Jersey	N.J. Stat. Ann. Sec. 7:28-27.1 Certification of Radon Testers and Mitigators. N.J. Stat. Ann. 26:2D-71 Radiation Protection Act
New York	N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 7930.3
Ohio	Omo. Rev. Code Ann. Sec. 3723.02
Pennsylvania	PA. Stat. Ann. tit. 68, 7503 (a)(5)  Radon Certification Act (act of July 9, 1987, P.L. 238, No. 43); 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240.
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws. Sec. 23-61-5
Tennessee	Tenn. Code Ann. Sec. 62-6-302
Utah	Utah Code Ann. Sec. 58-55-305
Virginia	VA. Code Ann. Sec. 54.1-201, VA. Code Ann. 32.1-229.01
West Virginia	W. VA. Code Sec. 16-34-1

The wording of the statutes and codes varies considerably. However, it is possible to piece together general requirements which can also be used by Canadian provinces and territories seeking to implement a mandatory certification program.

• There are restrictions on any person testing and mitigating radon for a fee unless they are certified pursuant to a state approved program.
• Civil and criminal penalties are in place for persons who conducting radon testing or mitigation work without certification.
• Exceptions are made to ensure people can, on their own, test buildings they occupy, own, or lease.
• States approve certification and training through the National Radon Safety Board and/or the National Radon Proficiency Program (In Canada’s C-NRPP has already been created to serve as an analogous program, providing training and examinations as a condition to certification).
• There are specific requirements of persons who are certified, such as:
• qualifying education and exams
• registration
• following the law
• following technical standards for conducting testing and mitigation
• continuing education
• submitting quality assurance/quality control
• using approved devices
• worker safety plans (in Canada C-NRPP imposes these requirements on its members)

In Canada, C-NRPP is already positioned to maintain national standards for radon professionals, and currently provides training, examinations, certification, registration, and technical standards (see C-NRPP List of Certifications). Provincial and territorial legislation covering radon professionals can make use of this existing structure by requiring (in legislation or regulation) that radon testing and mitigation services performed for a fee be done by C-NRPP certified professionals.

Professional contribution to radon databases and maps

Good databases of radon test results are an important component of understanding radon prevalence. These in turn can contribute to maps and other forms of public information that can guide homeowners, landlords, real estate professionals and others to be vigilant around radon. One important tool for building databases is to require radon testing and mitigation professionals to submit test results to centralized databases.

U.S. states require radon professionals to report test results to government agencies.

Table 5: US states with reporting requirements for radon professionals or laboratories

State	Reporting requirement
Florida	Florida Statutes, 2020 s. 404.056(2)(c)
Illinois	420 ILCS 44/30 Ill. Admin. Code Section 422.110
Indiana	410 Ind. Admin. Code 5.1-1-25 (d) and (f)
Iowa	Iowa Code Ann. Sec. 64144.3 (136B.2)
Kansas	Kan. Stat. § 48-16a10
Maine	Maine Rev. Stat., tit. 22 (2) §778
Minnesota	Minn. Admin. Rules 4620.7800
Nebraska	Nebraska Administrative Code 180-11-004.01, 11-010
New Jersey	N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-27.28; New Jersey Statutes 26:2D-74.
New York	10 N.Y. Codes Rules & Reg. Section 16.130
Ohio	Ohio Admin. Code 3701-69-13
Pennsylvania	25 Pa. Code § 240.303.
Rhode Island	216-50-15 R.I. Code R. § 2.7.7

While each of these statutes or codes are written differently it is possible to describe general characteristics and best practices.

• A requirement of certified radon professionals is that they report all radon test results to a government agency on a regular basis (such as monthly or within a time frame such as 30 or 45 days after conducting the test).
• Some contents of the report are specified such as:
• the radon levels detected
• the location, age, and description of the building
• location in the building where test performed
• the name and certification numbers of the certified radon measurement business and individual who performed the measurements
• Start and end dates for measurements
• Whether a radon reduction system is currently in use, the type and identification tag/numbers
• The type of test performed, device used, and laboratory used
• A prescribed method for submitting data (such as type of computer file) to facilitate ease of database construction.
• Resolution of potential privacy and freedom of information issues. This can take the form of requirements to obtain consent of clients to share radon tests with model language for a consent form (see Kansas and New Jersey). In other cases, there are explicit exemptions from Freedom of Information requests for radon data held by government agencies (Illinois).
• Some states impose requirements directly on labs (Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska).

Canadian provinces and territories that wish to create reporting requirements should consult with C-NRPP and the Canadian Radon Database and Mapping Working Group on reporting requirements, methods for submitting data, and privacy and freedom of information concerns. Working with national standard setting organizations and groups can ensure national harmonization of standards and best practices are met.