Radon in Vancouver 1.2% of 83 homes, which is not British Columbia
The Vancouver health service delivery area was 1.2% of 83 homes above 200 Bq/m³. Richmond, Fraser North and Fraser South were 0% in their samples. British Columbia’s population-weighted estimate was 3.9% because most people live on that coast. Kootenay-Boundary was 29.3% of 109 homes. The Okanagan was 17.4%.
A condo above the second storey in the West End is a different exposure than a basement in East Vancouver, and both are different from Castlegar. Test the unit you occupy.
What the percentage does not measure
The survey describes homes recruited in a health region, not your house. The slab, the footing drain, the cracks and how many hours the windows stay shut change the number from one address to the next. The reading that matters is the lowest lived-in room, during the heating season.
If the report is over 200
In that survey, Health Canada asked participants to act within two years between 200 and 600 Bq/m³, and within one year above 600. Next steps: radon above 200. British Columbia Castlegar
The 4-day test is a first reading. The 91-day test is the length Health Canada uses to judge a heating season. Both are $59 before tax. Shipping, the prepaid return and the lab are included. Tax is extra. The PDF report is emailed within 2 business days after the lab receives the detector.
Above 200 Bq/m³, the fix is a fan that pulls soil gas from under the slab and exhausts it above the roof. Gaz Radon is C-NRPP certified for testing and for mitigation, and ships kits across Canada. Start from the Canada test page.
Source: Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, long-term tests in the 2009–2011 heating seasons, report published in 2012. A health-region percentage is not a reading for one address.
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