A new report available online found that 19% of the homes tested in Creston had radon levels above the Canadian guideline level. Health Canada recommends that all homes in Canada should be tested for radon. Residents participated in the national “100 Radon Test Kit Challenge” which to date has provided over 30,000 radon tests to communities across Canada.
“We were pleased to see so many residents recognize the importance of testing their home for radon,” says Pam Warkentin, Project Manager at Take Action on Radon. “Our community approach to the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge means that no one needs to feel they’re the only one testing their home for radon. Everyone knows that they are one of many families in their community who are taking their radon exposure seriously.”
Radon is an odourless, colourless, radioactive soil gas that can build up to dangerous levels in indoor air, making it the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In BC, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) promotes radon awareness through a Radon Map that provides a summary of radon levels in regions across the province and estimates lung cancer risk for the whole population and for smokers. BC Cancer estimates that 3 in 10 new cases of lung cancer in this province are now detected in non-smokers. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco.
The Town of Creston’s Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Coordinator, Asha DeLisle says “We are grateful to have worked with the Take Action on Radon team to bring awareness about this important issue to the community. Radon is an invisible but preventable health risk, and because every home is different, testing is the only way to know your level of exposure. We want Creston residents to have the information and resources they need to make informed choices for their families.”
Solutions are available for residents who discover their indoor radon levels are dangerously high. Radon mitigation systems can be installed in any home and reduce radon levels by an average of over 90%. The work involved can generally be completed within a day by a certified professional. Canada’s national radon certification program (C-NRPP) provides a searchable list of radon professionals. The Canadian Lung Association has also recently made available a grant to support families with low income to help with the cost of mitigation.
About Take Action on Radon
Take Action on Radon is a national initiative funded by Health Canada that works to bring together radon stakeholders and raise radon awareness across Canada. The initiative is led by the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) and the Canadian Cancer Society.
The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge program is a nation-wide research and awareness project supported by the Take Action on Radon program that was brought to Creston in 2025. The Challenge provided free test kits to communities interested in learning about their radon levels. Participants received a confidential, individual radon test in addition to the publicly available Community Report summarizing the results of the community testing. Residents who didn’t get a chance to participate but would like to order a test kit can learn more at www.takeactiononradon.ca/test.
To schedule an interview with a representative, please contact: Pam Warkentin at 204-798-9649 or p_warkentin@carst.ca.
References:
A copy of this and all the community reports for the last eight years of the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge can be found on Take Action in Radon’s website: https://takeactiononradon.ca/resources/100-radon-test-kit-challenge/
To see BCCDC’s Radon Map, visit: https://reporting.bccdc.ca/bcradonmap/
To learn more about radon and how to test your home, visit: TakeActionOnRadon.ca
To learn more about what municipalities can do about radon, check out Health Canada’s Radon action guide for municipalities: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon/action-guides/municipalities.html
For the Canadian Lung Association radon mitigation grant available for low to moderate income homes, visit: https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/radon/lungs-matter-radon-mitigation-support
To see the list of searchable radon professionals, visit: https://c-nrpp.ca/find-a-professional/
BC Cancer’s radon resources can be found through their cancer prevention website at: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/prevention/air-quality/radon