Radon is invisible, tasteless, and odourless and long-term exposure has been considered the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, Health Canada said.
When it is released outdoors it does not pose a health risk, the agency said, however, “in enclosed spaces, like homes, it can accumulate to high levels and become a risk to the health of you and your family.”
The organization’s Radiation Protection Bureau has tested the devices and found the “products measure inaccurate radon levels and likely pose a danger to human health or safety,” the federal agency said.
Amazon.ca reported 46 units of the Funny Kitchen Home Radon Detector were sold in Canada between November 2021 to July 2024. Two purchases of the Boyd Gresham “Toolhome” Radon Detector were made in June 2024, Health Canada said. However, the health agency said the devices could also have been sold online elsewhere.
The devices are battery-powered and were advertised for long- and short-term home radon monitoring.
Customers who purchased the devices have been advised to stop using them immediately and dispose of them in accordance with municipal electronic waste requirements.
The items have been removed from the Amazon.ca website and Health Canada said it has been contacting sellers of the products. Both devices were manufactured in China.
Health Canada recommends customers only purchase radon detectors that have passed performance testing by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP), the Canadian radon certification program recognized by Health Canada.
Health Canada said testing of that device also found it to be ineffective in providing an accurate measurement of radon.
The detector was described as a black device with “Radon Detector” below the LED screen. It was said to have been sold exclusively on Amazon.ca with the ASIN # B0BXSKZJZG.
Nine devices were sold between June 2024 to December 2024 and there was no reports of injuries or incidents with that device as of April 23, according to the health agency.
