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Radon Gas: PNCR-C Certified Professional

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from uranium naturally present in the Earth’s crust. It is found in the soil everywhere on the Earth’s surface. The amount of radon in the soil can vary significantly from one location to another. This gas can also be found in groundwater.

Radon can seep into buildings, especially through foundations, but also, in some cases, through well water. It can accumulate indoors and reach concentrations that may pose a health risk. Since it is a gas with no odor, taste, or color, it is impossible to detect without specialized equipment.

Radon and its radioactive decay products enter the lungs with the air we breathe.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It is also the leading cause of cancer among non-smokers. In Quebec, 10 to 16% of lung cancer deaths are associated with radon. This represents more than 1,000 deaths per year.

Radon quickly dilutes in outdoor air, so its concentrations are usually very low and do not pose a health problem.

However, radon can infiltrate indoor air in buildings through various openings:

Earthen floors
Cracks in the concrete slab or foundation walls
Sumps
Crawl spaces
Joints
Openings around drain pipes and service entries, such as pipe fittings
Groundwater supply rich in radon can also be a source of indoor contamination

Radon mainly accumulates in the lowest and least ventilated rooms of a building, such as the basement.

Since radon concentration depends on the building's configuration, it is recommended to take new measurements after major modifications to the envelope (e.g., insulation) or foundations.

To know the radon concentration in your home, it must be measured using specialized detectors or devices, which report the result in becquerels per cubic meter of air (Bq/m³).

The average radon concentration in Quebec home basements is about 37 Bq/m³. However, concentrations can sometimes reach very high levels, exceeding 1,000 Bq/m³.
According to the guide on radon measurements in public buildings, it is not recommended to use short-term measurements to assess the need for corrective actions.

In Canada, there is a guideline stating that the radon concentration in a home should not exceed 200 Bq/m³.

If the concentration in your home exceeds this level, you should take corrective actions:

More than 600 Bq/m³: fix the issue within one year;
>Between 200 and 600 Bq/m³: fix the issue within two years.

It is estimated that 7% of homes in Canada have radon levels that exceed the 200 Bq/m³ guideline.

To have your indoor air quality (radon) checked by a PNCR-C certified professional (Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program), you can contact the team at Spheratest Environnement.

Reference source: Government of Quebec and Health Canada

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A word
of our customers

"When faced with a contamination issue, they guided us through resolving the numerous challenges that emerged. Dealing with this kind of unpleasant surprise exposes property owners to a plethora of proven or potential problems. From the outset, Spheratest provided us with the best advice for carrying out decontamination according to industry standards. The company has always demonstrated diligence regarding deadlines. The staff is always courteous, punctual, and available. Everyone I encountered was highly knowledgeable in their field. Furthermore, Spheratest has always been transparent about costs, a major factor in such a stressful ordeal. They are a group of people for whom quality seems to be a cardinal value. Moreover, they treat you as a human being. In such a trial, this is invaluable. It is a top-notch company that I highly recommend."

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"Thank you very much, I have always felt that you are very professional people. I can tell you that we feel confident with you and see such a difference. Thank you for being on our path to help us navigate through a situation for which we would have otherwise passed, believe me."

"On my site, I expected phases 1 and 2 to be a necessary step, and that we wouldn't discover anything more than what I already knew. But that was not the case. The Spheratest team accompanied me throughout the soil decontamination and rehabilitation process, which was long and full of challenges. Fortunately, they were patient in answering my 1001 questions in the face of my total lack of understanding of what we were finding with every shovel of dirt. They were diligent, available, present, understanding, and flexible to adapt to everything my site required. I greatly appreciated working with the Spheratest team, particularly Isabelle and Benoit, with whom I had many exchanges."

Dear Mr. Lejossec,
I would like to thank you and your team for the exemplary work you have done, as discussed over the phone. It was truly a pleasure to collaborate with such a professional team, which took the time to meticulously check all the underground pipelines to avoid any damage.
I would like to emphasize how much we enjoyed working with you. Your team demonstrated great professionalism, and we are very pleased with the results.
Once again, thank you for everything.
Best regards