Radon: the silent killer in our homes
Dale Shutt
Local Journalism Initiative
CAMPBELL’S BAY – A radon awareness forum was held on November 2 at the RA centre in Cambell’s Bay. The event was organized by Judith Spence of Citizens of the Pontiac and featured guest speakers Kelly Bush (Health Canada), Marcel Brascoupe and Arthur Ladouceur (Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists), and Pascal Proulx (Western Quebec School Board (WQSB).
Radon is a radioactive gas originating from the breakdown of uranium in the ground, which occurs everywhere in Canada. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer deaths in non-smokers resulting in an estimated 3,000 deaths per year in Canada. Health Canada estimates that 10% of homes across the country have radon levels above the guideline. They also estimate that 50% of total radiation exposure over our lifetimes is from exposure to radon and 90% of that exposure happens right in your own home. According to Health Canada, the acceptable level of radon is 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200Bq/m³).
What can you do?
Testing is easy and inexpensive. You can purchase a do-it-yourself testing kit. A word of caution: be sure to buy a test kit from a certified supplier. An accurate test needs to be done over a three-month period, ideally during fall or winter. The alternative is to hire a
professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (www.C-NRPP.ca). Radon levels in the home can be reduced by more than 80% for about the same cost as replacing a furnace or air conditioner.
Radon monitoring in Pontiac schools
Pascal Proulx, Assistant Director General and Director of Buildings, Equipment, and Technology at the WQSB, informed the meeting that tests have been conducted in the following Pontiac schools: Dr. Wilbert Keon, St-John’s, Onslow, McDowell, and Pontiac High School. Their radon levels were found to be well below the recommended maximum, ranging between 10 and 18 Bq/m³. The board will continue to test schools over a six-year cycle.
Want to learn more?
Go to www.takeactiononradon.ca or www.canada.ca/radon to find a test kit or a certified professional.
