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Radon in Nova Scotia homes

What radon is, how it gets into homes, why it matters here, and how testing helps you decide what to do.

You can't see radon. Testing is how you find out.

  • It comes from the ground

    A naturally occurring radioactive gas from uranium breaking down in soil and rock.

  • You can't sense it

    You can't see, smell or taste radon. A home's age or appearance tells you nothing about its level.

  • It can build up indoors

    It can enter through cracks, sumps and openings around the foundation.

How radon gets into a home

Homes are often at slightly lower air pressure than the soil around their foundations, especially in the heating season. Warm air rising and escaping from upper floors, along with exhaust fans and some appliances, can draw soil gas in through:

  • Cracks in foundation walls and floors
  • Gaps around pipes, wires and other service openings
  • Sumps and floor drains
  • Joints between walls and floors

That's why new and well-sealed homes can still have elevated radon, and why neighbouring homes can have very different levels.

Why it matters

Long-term exposure to elevated radon increases the risk of lung cancer. According to Health Canada, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The risk depends on the level and how long you're exposed, which is why long-term testing matters.

Radon is a real concern in Nova Scotia

The Government of Nova Scotia reports that approximately 36.8% of homes in the province are expected to have radon above Health Canada's 200 Bq/m³ guideline, based on the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon. That's a provincial estimate. It doesn't tell you about any one home.

Homes expected to be above Health Canada's 200 Bq/m³ guideline
Nova Scotia
36.8%
Canada
17.8%

Source: Government of Nova Scotia, Make sense of radon (opens in a new tab), citing the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon.

Not all radon tests answer the same question

  1. 48 hours

    Short-term check

    An early, preliminary snapshot

  2. 4 days

    Real estate screening

    Levels during the test

  3. 1 year

    One-year monitoring

    Month-to-month trends through every season

  4. At least

    91 days

    Long-term test

    The long-term average Health Canada's guideline refers to

Health Canada's 200 Bq/m³ guideline applies to a home's long-term average. It's an action guideline, not a line between “safe” and “dangerous.” Decisions about reducing radon should be based on a long-term test of at least 91 days. Opening windows isn't a reliable fix, especially through a Nova Scotia winter.

Official sources

Find out what's happening in your home

The only way to know your radon level is to test. Tell us about your home and we'll recommend the right option.

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