Moncton 
Residents across New Brunswick can now pick up free radon test kits at provincial libraries through a new government initiative aimed at improving access to home testing.
Credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours announced the program, noting its goal of making radon testing more accessible to residents. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council (RPC) and NB Lung.
The Radon Test Distribution Program launched with the start of the heating season, when testing is most effective due to homes being sealed against cold weather. Each kit contains a 90-day test and educational materials on radon, a radioactive gas linked to lung cancer.
Testing and analysis will be conducted by the RPC, a provincial research organization with more than 30 years of experience in air quality assessment. CEO and executive director Diane Botelho said the council’s certified scientists have long worked to ensure New Brunswickers have access to accurate radon testing and guidance on mitigation.
According to provincial data, approximately one in four homes in New Brunswick has elevated radon levels. Exposure to radon is identified as the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada.
NB Lung, which has previously supported radon awareness and the lending of test kits, is a key partner in the new program. President and CEO Melanie Langille said New Brunswick is the first province to provide province-wide free access to testing, adding that high radon levels in homes can be corrected once detected.
Radon is an invisible, odourless gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. It can seep into buildings through cracks, floor drains, and unsealed openings in foundations, posing long-term health risks if not addressed.
