In Canada, the health risk associated with radon gas exposure is not well known, despite the fact that it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, after smoking. In 2015, the Households and the Environment Survey found that only 55% of all Canadian households indicated that they had heard of radon.
Radon is generated naturally during the breakdown of uranium in the subsurface and in building materials. The problem with radon is that it is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. Once radon becomes trapped in the confined spaces of homes or buildings, elevated concentrations represent an exposure concern. In fact, exposure to radon represents almost 50% of a person’s lifetime radiation exposure.
The most commonly known radon health risk is linked to buildings or homes with poor ventilation where radon gas has become trapped as it migrates into building spaces through such openings as floor drains, sumps, and cracks in the foundation. Health Canada estimates that 7% of homes in Canada have a radon gas concentration above the Health Canada guideline of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). The only way to confirm that radon levels are acceptable in indoor air is to conduct proper testing.
Health Canada encourages all Canadians to test their homes for radon. If you suspect radon may be present in your home or workplace, Premier recommends that the following steps be followed:
- Conduct proper baseline testing using a radon test kit. Premier recommends that testing be completed under the supervision of a professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP);
- If radon levels are elevated, retain a verified C-NRPP professional to provide mitigation measures for reducing indoor radon gas levels. Several inexpensive radon mitigation options are available and many cost approximately the same as common building repairs;
- Ensure the radon mitigation system is operating effectively. Short-term testing should be carried out by a C-NRPP professional; and
- Conduct a long-term three-month radon testing the following fall/winter season to confirm that the annual average radon level has been reduced below the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m3. To avoid a conflict of interest, radon testing should not be performed by the contractor that installed the mitigation system.
For more information on radon, please refer to the following Health Canada websites:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/radon/remediation-attenuation-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_canadians-canadiens/index-eng.php
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-508-x/16-508-x2016002-eng.htm
Written by Troy Jones, EHS Consultant
For more information on how Premier can help you with Radon testing, give us a call or send Troy an email (tjones@premiercorp.ca)
