Radon in Alberta: The Invisible Lung Cancer Risk in Your Home

It has no colour. No smell. No taste. And it’s in an estimated 1 in 6 Canadian homes at concerning levels.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It seeps up through foundations, crawl spaces, and any gaps in a home’s base, accumulating in the air inside.

Health Canada identifies radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, after smoking. An estimated 3,200 Canadians die from radon-induced lung cancer every year.

Alberta is one of Canada’s highest-risk provinces.

Why Alberta Has a Radon Problem

The geology of Alberta — particularly in central and northern regions, and parts of the foothills — contains uranium-bearing soils that generate higher radon than average. Health Canada’s cross-Canada radon survey found that approximately 16% of Canadian homes exceed the national guideline of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³).

In high-risk areas of Alberta, that proportion is significantly higher.

The risk is compounded by Alberta’s housing patterns: older bungalows and split-levels with direct soil contact, basements used as living spaces, and tight winterization that limits natural air exchange. All of these factors concentrate radon inside the home.

Who Is at Risk

Everyone who spends time inside a radon-affected home is at risk, but some factors increase susceptibility:

Women and non-smokers: A counterintuitive but important fact — the absolute risk of radon-induced lung cancer in never-smokers is lower than in smokers, but never-smokers who develop lung cancer are disproportionately affected by radon. Health Canada’s data shows radon as the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in Canada.
Children: Children’s lungs are still developing, and they may spend more time in lower areas of the home (basements, ground floors) where radon concentrations are highest.
People in high-exposure homes: Concentration matters. The longer you live in a high-radon home, the greater the cumulative exposure.

Testing: Simple, Affordable, and Essential

Radon testing is straightforward:

Short-term tests (2–7 days): Available at hardware stores for $30–$50. Provide an initial indication but are more variable and better used as a screening tool.
Long-term tests (90+ days): The gold standard. Deployed in the lowest occupied level of your home during the heating season (fall through spring, when windows are closed). More accurate than short-term tests. Also available as DIY kits.
Professional measurement: A radon measurement professional uses calibrated equipment and follows Health Canada’s measurement protocol. Recommended if you plan to take mitigation action.
Health Canada’s guideline: 200 Bq/m³. If your measurement exceeds this, mitigation is recommended. Between 100–200 Bq/m³, mitigation is strongly encouraged. Below 100 Bq/m³ is generally considered acceptable.

Mitigation: Effective and Durable

If your home has elevated radon, mitigation is a well-established, durable solution:

Sub-slab depressurization is the most common and effective method: a pipe is installed through the foundation slab, connected to a fan that draws radon from beneath the home and vents it outside before it can accumulate indoors. A certified mitigation contractor can typically complete this work in a single day.

Most mitigation systems reduce radon levels by 80–99%. They run continuously, require minimal maintenance, and last for decades.

A Simple Ask

If you own an Alberta home and have never tested for radon, this is the most actionable health step in this article: order a long-term test kit today.

The average Alberta winter is the ideal testing window. A 90-day test started in October will give you results by January — and peace of mind either way.

Radon is invisible, but the risk it poses is very real. And unlike most health risks, this one is almost entirely within your control.

Next: Carbon Dioxide and Focus: How CO₂ Builds Up in Your Home →

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Sources: Health Canada Radon Program; Canadian Cancer Society Radon Statistics, 2023; Health Canada Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes.

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