Good news for Saint-Polycarpe residents: radon detectors can now be borrowed directly from City Hall. All you need is proof of residency, and you can take the device home for 20 days.

What is radon? Radon is a radioactive gas naturally present in the soil. It comes from the decay of uranium buried in the earth's crust. Outdoors, radon poses no health risk, since it is diluted in the atmosphere. However, when it infiltrates a closed environment, such as a house, it can accumulate in high concentrations, particularly in the basement.

It emits radioactive radiation that can, in the long term, cause lung cancer. Radon can seep indoors through any opening in contact with the ground, such as :

- Crawl spaces (dirt floors);

- Cracks in walls and floor slabs;

- Leaky joints in service or drain pipes (water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, heating oil, etc.);

- Basement drains and other plumbing lines.

According to Health Canada, all Canadian homes contain radon. Regardless of the age, type of construction or location of your home, the only way to know its radon concentration is to test it with a dosimeter.

The average radon concentration in Quebec basements is estimated at around 35 Bq/m³. While there is no standard governing radon concentration in Canadian homes, mitigation measures must be put in place if the average annual concentration, in normally occupied areas of a home, exceeds 200 Bq/m³:

- Up to 600 Bq, remediation is recommended within two years;

- If the concentration exceeds this level, it's best to take action within 12 months. How do I go about it? By implementing one of the following corrective measures:

- Seal foundation cracks;

- Seal openings in contact with the ground;

- Make sure sumps are covered and vented to the outside;

- Improve ventilation, especially in the basement.

For more information, residents can drop by City Hall or call 450-265-3777.