Be wary of silent killers! Radon gas threatens the health of one-fifth of Canadians
A new report suggests that a silent killer is invading more households in Canada than ever before.
Radon gas, an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas, has been found to exist at dangerously high levels indoors, affecting 17.8% of Canadians, equivalent to approximately one in five Canadians affected.
This report, promoted by Health Canada, was conducted by researchers from the University of Calgary.
Radon gas is a gas that comes from underground, "said Alex Budd, the owner of Budd Radon Services. It is released from uranium contained in rocks
It is released from under your house, leaks into your house, and may accumulate inside the house, leading to lung cancer."
Image source: njhomeinspectors
Budd said that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
He said that this gas usually seeps into households through foundation cracks and sewage pumps, rising from the soil through the path of least resistance.
Experts say that indoor radon levels may be higher in winter because the ground is frozen. Insufficient ventilation inside the house due to closed windows is also a contributing factor.
Budd recommends that all homeowners test their properties, as without testing, it is impossible to know if your home is exposed to high levels of radon gas.
The radon action guideline for Health Canada is 200 Bq/m ³ per cubic meter. In the United States, this value is 150 Bq/m ³, while the World Health Organization recommends a value not exceeding 100 Bq/m ³.
Budd stated that Health Canada recommends that if the level exceeds 200 Bq/m ³, radon reduction treatment should be carried out within one year to avoid adverse health effects, although the effects may vary from person to person.
It's like smoking, right? Some people smoke their entire lives and never get lung cancer. Some people get it at a very young age. It's the same as radon, "he said.
Radon testing can be purchased at different prices at local hardware stores.
Budd said that on average, a radon reduction system may cost homeowners about 2500 yuan, involving the installation of a ventilation system to extract radon gas from their homes and release it into the atmosphere.
It extracts all the air from under the concrete, brings it to the fan, and then exhausts it outside the house to ensure it has no chance of seeping into the house, "he said.
It pushed it away from the house. It hit the ground and spread into the outdoor air
Kinburn's homeowner Doug McClenahan recently installed a radon reduction system in his home after learning that it is located in a high-risk area.
I measured in the basement and the result surprised me, over a thousand. It was 1240 Bq/m ³, "he told CTV News.
McClenahan and his family spend a portion of the year in British Columbia, keeping their home sealed and without ventilation.
He said that after taking action to reduce radon levels in his home, he now feels more comfortable.
Our current level is as low as 30 or even 25 Bq/m ³
Budd pointed out that radon levels typically fluctuate greatly within small areas, even between houses within the same community.
Health Canada provides a map showing which regions across the country are facing significant risks.
Source link:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/1-in-5-canadians-exposed-to-high-levels-of-radon-inside-their-homes-1.7160325