Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Bureau has warned against using some radon gas detectors sold on Amazon.ca. After sampling and evaluation, the Bureau concluded that such products measure inaccurate radon levels, posing a potential threat to human health and safety. Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and does not endanger people. However, in homes and other enclosed spaces, it can accumulate to high levels and poison residents. Long-term exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. The country’s guideline level for radon in indoor air is 200 Becquerel per cubic meter (Bq/m3).
The products indicated by Health Canada are battery-powered radon meters advertised for long- and short-term home radon monitoring. They were sold on Amazon.ca and other websites. Consumers who have bought these products should not use them and dispose of them following municipal electronic waste requirements. Health Canada also advised consumers to purchase only electronic radon monitors that have passed testing by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP), the Canadian radon certification program recognized by government authorities.
