November is Radon Awareness Month

By Julia Paul

It’s the time of the year when shutters are closed and the heat gets turned on. As we start to spend more time inside, it can be especially important to check one’s basement for high levels of radon.

Radon comes from the mineral Uranium. Uranium naturally occurs in the soil and, as it breaks down, it releases radon.

“The concern with radon is that it is an odourless, colourless, tasteless, radioactive gas that comes from the ground,” said Dale Lyttle, a public-health inspector with Huron-Perth Public Health. “It’s naturally found in soil, rock and water. It’s found basically in every home but it’s not always at elevated levels. So, radon levels inside homes can build up to levels that Health Canada considers to be dangerous. Health Canada recommends that any home with a radon level with 200 becquerels per cubic metre should take action to lower the level of radon.”

A study done in between 2009 and 2013 showed that 12 per cent of the homes in Huron-Perth had radon levels of over 200 becquerels per cubic metre. This time of year, basements are at a higher risk for concerning radon levels as they tend to be well sealed during winter. Anyone spending a lot of time in their basement should be testing for radon levels.

“Over time, exposure to elevated levels of radon can actually cause lung cancer,” Lyttle said. “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, causing over 3,000 Canadian deaths per year. Those who smoke cigarettes are at an even higher risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure.

“If people are concerned about radon in their home, there are test kits available. You can get them at hardware stores or you can go on websites to have them delivered to your home. Health Canada recommends to test your home every two years because testing is really the only way to know if radon levels are a concern in your house.”

One of the important things, Lyttle said, is to choose a test kit that's approved by Health Canada. The best type of kit is called a long-term radon test kit, which sits in the home for at least 91 days or more to get a proper reading. Anyone who is curious about their home’s radon levels can use a quick test and then follow up with a long-term test.

Radon testing is easy and effective. The kits are very easy to use with simple instructions. After placing the test in a room for 91 days or more, the test gets returned to the lab and analyzed. If the results show dangerous levels of radon, there are procedures that can lower the levels of radon in the room.

The first is active soil depressurization, which sucks the air from beneath the ground and removes the gas from the home. This procedure can range from $3,000 to $11,000 in cost. Another other option is to increase the ventilation in the room. Having a window open can let the radon gas escape and lower the levels of radon in the room. Changes to the HVAC system can also make a difference.

“(This month) gives us an opportunity to remind people that radon can be found anywhere in Ontario,” said Lyttle. “There is a risk that levels might be high in their home and they may not even know about it. So, being aware that it could be there; it also gives us an opportunity, with winter coming, to discuss testing and how easy it is for people to test and to correct the problem if necessary for the good of their health and their family’s health.”