Winter woes
As if all the other seasonal hazards of icicles and snowdrifts and lousy roads weren’t enough, winter is also the time when radon gas can seep into our lives.
With the world frozen and carpeted in snow, the gas in the soil underneath finds its way into our winterized homes, where it can build up and cause problems. The upside is that it is also more easily detectable in the winter.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is found naturally in the environment. It’s invisible and odourless, and is completely undetectable without the right equipment. It is, however, the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada.
The Health Canada website says that 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths in Canada are attributable to radon exposure. But, not everyone exposed to radon will get cancer, and occasional exposure doesn’t cause any symptoms. The risk depends mainly on the level of radon and the length of time of the exposure. Smokers are in the most danger, with Health Canada saying that smoking and high exposure to radon combined lead to a one in three risk of cancer; that figure for nonsmokers is only one in 20.
The results of a two-year study by Health Canada’s National Radon Program, which were released in 2012, showed Saskatchewan with a slightly higher percentage of homes with radon levels above 200 Bq/m3 (16.3) than the average of all provinces. Radon is measured in units called “becquerels per cubic meter” (Bq/m³) and Health Canada recommends remedial measures be taken at levels above 200.
Radon moves easily through the soil, escaping into the atmosphere or into buildings through cracks in basements or gaps around pipes and cables. In the winter, with doors and windows kept closed, concentrations of the gas can accumulate. In the open air, it disperses enough to not pose a danger.
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan recommends that homeowners test for radon during the winter months, and sells a testing kit for $50, which also includes an analysis by the Saskatchewan Research Council. The kits are easy to use and the results are sent to the homeowner afterwards. If they show high radon levels, steps can be taken to block the radon from coming into the home.
For more information, visit www.sk.lung.ca/index.php/protect-your-lungs-mainmenu/ information-on-radon-mainmenu-312#. VJmLr8AA4 or www./radiation/radon/guidelines_lignes_directrice-eng.php.