Radon Program
Phase 1 sampling and mitigation complete.
Phase 2 sampling and mitigation complete.
Phase 2b sampling complete; mitigation in progress.
¶¶ÒõAPPµ¼º½ Radon Monitoring Project
As part of a proactive approach to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our community, Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) is leading a long-term project to measure radon levels in university-owned buildings.
What is Radon?
Radon is an odourless, colourless and radioactive gas that arises from soils all over the Canadian Prairies, and can accumulate to unsafe levels within indoor environments. Long-term exposure to radon is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
Radon can enter a building through openings where the building contacts the soil such as: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, or gaps around service pipes.
The Testing Process
Radon levels in a building can vary significantly over time — to derive accurate radon concentration readings, a minimum three-month measurement period is required. Testing is done in the winter months (Oct. – Apr.) during the heating season when buildings tend to be sealed off from the outside air.
A radon measurement device is about the size of a hockey puck. The devices are strategically placed in rooms that are occupied more than four hours per day and have floors or walls in direct contact with soil.
Mitigation Methods
Mitigation methods can vary significantly depending on the room or building. In many cases, a simple adjustment to the ventilation system can do the trick — other issues may require foundation repair or supplemental ventilation systems.
¶¶ÒõAPPµ¼º½ Approach Aligned with World Health Organization Guidelines
Health Canada recommends that residential radon levels between 200 and 600 Becquerel per cubic meter (Bq/m3) be mitigated within two years, while the World Health Organization proposes a reference level of 100 Bq/m3 to minimize radon-related health hazards. With these recommendations in mind, ¶¶ÒõAPPµ¼º½ has committed to achieving radon levels less than 100 Bq/m3.
Working With the Best
¶¶ÒõAPPµ¼º½ will plan and execute phases of the project in collaboration with Radon West, an external consulting company that is Canadian certified in both the measurement and mitigation of radon. Radon West was selected through an RFP process.
¶¶ÒõAPPµ¼º½ is also lucky to have available the expertise of globally recognized radon gas researcher, Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, PhD and assistant professor at the University of Calgary. In addition to acting as a consultant on the University Radon Monitoring Project, Goodarzi currently leads the campaign to test Canadian homes for radon.
Get in Touch
For questions and comments about the university Radon Monitoring Project, email ucsafety@ucalgary.ca. To learn about testing your own home for radon, visit or the .