New Brunswick Offers Free Radon Tests Again

New Brunswick is once again offering free radon test kits to residents through its provincial distribution program. These kits, which include a testing device and informational materials from the health department, can be picked up at local libraries across the province. The province recommends conducting the tests during the colder months, when homes are typically kept closed, for more reliable results.

The tests must remain undisturbed for a minimum of 91 days before being returned to a library for analysis, with results typically taking four to six weeks. This program, a collaboration with the New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council and NB Lung, saw nearly 12,000 kits distributed last year. Completed tests from the previous year are still being accepted. Distribution of test kits will conclude on February 28, 2027.

Health officials estimate that one in every four homes in New Brunswick may have radon levels exceeding Health Canada's guideline of 200 becquerels per cubic metre. Prolonged exposure to high radon concentrations can elevate the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas emanating from the breakdown of uranium in the soil and rock, which can infiltrate homes through foundation cracks and other openings.