Published: September 9, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
On behalf of Take Action on Radon
A new report available online (visit link here) found that 28% of the homes tested in Grand Bay-Westfield had radon levels above the Canadian guideline level, further emphasizing the need for all residents to test their homes 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 and 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. Radon exposure also compounds the risk of lung cancer for people with other risk factors.
The New Brunswick government unanimously passed a resolution in the legislature on November 28, 2024 that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to make free 90 day radon gas tests accessible to the general public; to engage public health in order to support promotion of tests; and to explore ways to support individuals with radon gas mitigation. This is a significant commitment that will save lives.
“We are grateful to our residents who took part in this initiative and helped us better understand radon levels in our community. Radon is a serious health issue, however, it’s one we can do something about. Taking steps to test and address levels helps ensure Grand Bay-Westfield remains a healthy and safe community.” – Mayor Brittany Merrifield, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield
Solutions are readily 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 on their website at www.c-nrpp.ca/find-a-professional. The Canadian Lung Association has also recently made available a grant to support families with low income to help with the cost of the mitigation.
The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge program is a nation-wide research and awareness project supported by the Take Action on Radon program. The Challenge provides free test kits to communities who want to know more about their radon levels. Participants each receive 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
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.
References
A copy of this and all the community reports for the last seven 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 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
Canadian Lung Association has a radon mitigation grant available for low to moderate income homes: https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/radon/lungs-matter-radon-mitigation-support
You can find radon related photos free to use: https://pixabay.com/users/takeactiononradon-18149510/
Media Contact
To schedule an interview with a representative, please contact:
Pam Warkentin
Phone: (204) 798-9649
Email: p_warkentin@carst.ca
