You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it, and that is what makes radon gas easy for people to ignore.
November is National Radon Action Month, and Public Heath Sudbury & Districts is calling on home and property owners to test for levels of this deadly radioactive gas.
Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in Canada and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.
The gas is also common across the country, maybe more common than you might think. Radon is produced naturally from the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil, and can then make its way to the surface. The gas enters homes through cracks in walls and foundations or through gaps around pipes and cables.
It concentrates in crawl spaces and basements, the closest places to where the gas enters a building, which often happen to be the areas that have poorer ventilation.
The only way to know if radon levels pose a risk in your home or property is to test for it. Fortunately, you can buy a relatively inexpensive test kit at a local hardware stores or online.
Simply follow the instructions and place the device in the lowest part of the home where people live or spend a lot of time. Then, send the device back to the company to get the results.
Health Canada recommends using a test kit that measures radon levels over three months or more during the fall and winter months, when people tend to keep their windows closed.
Homeowners can also find a certified professional to measure radon levels by contacting the Canadian-National Radon Proficiency Program at 1.855.722.6777 or visiting C-NRPP.ca.
There are ways to reduce radon levels, including increasing ventilation in the basement or sealing the foundation. You can also depressurize the soil beneath the home by installing a pipe through the foundation floor slab and attaching a fan that always runs to draw the radon gas from below the home and release it into the outdoors where it is quickly diluted.
For more information about radon gas and testing, visit Public Health Sudbury & Districts website or call 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) to speak with a public health inspector.
