Radon Testing Initiative in Kingston Social Housing

KFL&A Public Health and the City of Kingston Housing & Social Services Department, with support from Health Canada, are sampling radon levels in basement and ground-level social housing units in the City of Kingston and Frontenac County.

What is radon?

Radon is a natural radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon.

How can radon affect my health?

Breathing in radon over many years can cause lung cancer. After tobacco smoking, breathing in radon gas is the second most common reason people develop lung cancer.

How does radon get into my home?

Radon gas comes from the ground and gets into buildings through cracks in floors and walls, such as a basement foundation, gaps around pipes, or open floor drains.

Why are you only testing basements and ground floor units?

Radon gas can build up in basements and first floor units because they are close to the ground. The highest risk of radon exposure is in these units.

What if radon levels are high in my home?

If radon levels in your home are high, your landlord will do work to lower the radon level. After the work is done, KFL&A Public Health will do another test to check that the radon gas is at a safe level.   

KFL&A Public Health has partnered with the City of Kingston and Health Canada to test radon levels in basements and first floor social housing units to prevent any health problems.

Here is what you need to know:

Step 1

Your landlord will let you know if they are testing your home for radon

Step 2

Radon tests are safe and will be in your home for 3 months

Step 3

Your landlord will pick up the radon test.

Step 4

If there is a radon problem, your landlord will fix it.