Editorial
There is a song called “Dancing with the Daughters of Radon.” But you may not understand what it’s about. When you do, it’s a little unsettling.
Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas that comes from uranium in rocks and soil. This gas decays to form elements (“daughters” or progeny) that can be inhaled in the lungs and cause cancer. Needless to say, you don’t want to dance with these girls.
While radon is associated with mining, you don’t have to be a miner to be exposed to its harmful properties.
According to Health Canada, radon is found in nearly every home (one in five homes in this country have the gas); it can enter via cracks or gaps in the foundation and walls.
As the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, exposure to radon claims more than 3,000 lives in Canada each year.
There are testimonials and case studies of people who’ve contracted cancer from exposure to radon in their home. One testimonial from National Radon Defense tells the story of a 37-year-old woman who led a healthy lifestyle and never smoked; there was no family history of lung cancer, yet she was diagnosed with it.
She eventually tested her home for radon and found very high levels of the gas. A subsequent mitigation system fixed the problem, and the other good news was she was treated (early) with surgery and chemotherapy and was able to call herself a cancer survivor.
Levels of the gas vary from one house to another, even if they are similar designs and adjacent to each other. The only way to know the level in your home is to test for it.
You can purchase a do-it-yourself kit or hire a certified radon measurement professional who will conduct a long-term test.
If your radon test result is above the Canadian guideline of 200Bq/m3, Health Canada recommends hiring a professional to determine the best method to reduce the levels. For example, a radon mitigation system can be installed to reduce the radon by more than 80 per cent.
Health Canada says the most common method is called sub-slab depressurization, which involves installing a pipe through the foundation floor to an outside wall and using a fan to draw the radon to the outside. Sealing entry routes and increasing ventilation can also reduce radon levels.
For more information, call 1-833-723-6600.
Lyonel Doherty, editor
