Lily Ryan
Published in the Pontiac Journal on February 11, 2026.
MRC PONTIAC – Several municipalities across the MRC Pontiac are offering radon testing kits to residents, allowing homeowners to check for the presence of the invisible gas in their homes. The testing units can be borrowed from local libraries and must be installed for a period of approximately 60 to 90 days, depending on the type of test used. After this period, the results indicate the level of radon present in the home.
Radon levels can vary widely from one home to the next due to differences in underground rock formations and cracks beneath buildings. As a result, one house may contain high radon levels while a neighbouring home has none. The gas is odourless and typically presents few noticeable symptoms.
Prolonged radon exposure has been linked to certain lung diseases, which has prompted municipalities to make testing more accessible to residents.
However, not all municipalities currently offer lending programs, and those that do may have long waiting lists due to high demand.
Residents who are unable to access a municipal testing kit can purchase their own through radon testing agencies or private retailers. The cost of a detector generally starts at around $200, depending on the model.
Ecosense, a radon detector manufacturer, has launched a campaign to increase access to testing devices. They’ve pledged to donate one radon monitor for every five purchased using its campaign code. The donated units are distributed to libraries, community centres, and other public facilities for community use.
Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary confirmed radon monitors are available through the Shawville library and the program is popular. About one-third of mayors across the MRC indicated that radon detectors are available through their municipal libraries.
Photo: Lily Ryan
