Nouvelles
Beware of radon!

Monday, December 8, 2025

Did you know that radon is an invisible, odorless gas that occurs naturally in the soil and can seep into your home, posing a risk to your lungs?

Radon is a radioactive, invisible, odorless gas that occurs naturally in the soil and can seep into buildings, posing a risk to lung health.

In the Eastern Townships, it is estimated to be present in 1 in 4 homes. This means that 25% of the population may be exposed in their own homes without even realizing it!

Yet exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In Quebec, it is estimated that 10 to 16% of lung cancer deaths are associated with radon. To illustrate the scale of this, it would represent approximately one radon-related death per week in the Estrie region.

There are simple and affordable ways to measure radon in a building. However, nearly 90% of homeowners have not had these tests done.

Why is this an increasingly pressing issue for public health?

Our new habits increase our risk of radon exposure:

• Windows are kept closed more often, even in summer, due to heat, air conditioning, and smoke from forest fires.
• Teleworking and finished basements: we spend more time in areas where radon accumulates.
• Modern homes: they are more airtight and retain more gases.

Learn more