Radon is the leading cause of cancer among non-smokers
Published Tuesday December 1st, 2009
Whatever the smell is, you can be rest assured that it's not radon gas.
That's because the gas surpasses the human senses is odourless, colourless, and tasteless.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause among smokers.
What's most alarming is that this dangerous gas can accumulate in your home undetected.
Here's another fact: hardly anyone seems to know about it.
I was doing some research on radon recently.
Part of this included calling local home improvement stores to see if they had radon test kits.
I was surprised, and perhaps not so surprised, that some of them had no idea what I was even talking about!
I guess I wasn't the only one who was unaware of this dangerous gas.
So what is radon?
Well, it's a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is formed from the decay of uranium in the Earth's crust.
Regardless of how new your house is, the gas can seep in through cracks in your foundation wall, gaps around waste pipes, floor tiles, crawl spaces, drains, and sumps. As it comes from the ground, the gas tends to accumulate in lower areas, such as the basement, where it can reach harmful concentrations.
Radon isn't just for basements, though!
It can seep anywhere the house has contact with the soil, whether your house has a basement, crawl space, or is built slab-on grade.
Health Canada warns that if the concentration of radon exceeds 200 becquerels per cubic metre of air (200Bq/m3), corrective measures should be taken.
Long-term exposure to radon levels above the Health Canada guideline puts you and your family at a greater risk for developing lung cancer.
Smokers are at an even higher risk.
For example, a lifelong smoker who has not been exposed to radon has a one in eight chance of developing lung cancer.
If you add exposure to a high level of radon, your risk increases to one in three.
The only way to measure the level of radon in your home is to use a radon test kit.
Health Canada recommends that these kits be placed in the lowest level room that is typically occupied for more than four hours a day.
It's also recommended that you measure radon levels for at least three months.
This can be done with what are called "long-term test kits," which can be purchased from the New Brunswick Lung Association.
Concentrations of radon vary from house to house.
So don't assume that your house will have the same level as your neighbour's home.
Winter is actually the best time to test your home for radon as this is the time when radon levels will potentially be the highest.
This is because windows and doors are closed more often which allows more radon to accumulate.
It's also the time of year when people spend the most time indoors.
If the level of radon is found to be high, don't worry, it can be fixed!
A qualified home builder will be able to undertake appropriate repairs or renovations.
These are usually modest and may include sealing the cracks or holes in the foundation walls and floors.
You can help protect your family's health by testing your home and fixing the problem if your levels are over 200Bq/m3).
Radon test kits can make a great seasonal gift.
Give us a call at 506-455-8961 or toll free at 1-888-566-LUNG and get your radon test kit today!
Kurtis Knappe is a project co-ordinator at the New Brunswick Lung Association. He's currently working on the Radon Awareness Campaign.
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