Editor's Note: This story was previously posted on StratfordToday.ca.
NEWS RELEASE
HURON PERTH PUBLIC HEALTH
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November is Radon Action Month, and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) encourages residents to test their homes for radon.
Radon is an odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil and rocks. Radon gas can travel into homes unnoticed through cracks in the foundation or floors, gaps around pipes or cables, or sumps or drains. Long-term exposure to higher levels of radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
“Radon gas can be found at low levels in many homes across Ontario. Testing is an important step towards protecting your health and is the only way to know how much radon may be present indoors,” says Dana Merrifield, Public Health Inspector at HPPH.
HPPH recommends that residents test their homes for radon using a long-term test. Winter is a good time to test for radon because doors and windows are kept closed. A long-term test monitors indoor air for a minimum of three months. To obtain the most accurate results from radon testing, the device must be placed in the lowest level of the home where homeowners spend a minimum of four hours per day.
“Once you know the levels of radon in your home, you can take steps to lessen the risks and protect your health,” says Merrifield.
In November and January, Health Canada will be mailing postcards to select areas to encourage radon testing. Postcards will be mailed to Ontario households that have not previously received a postcard, in regions where one to three percent of homes are estimated to have high radon levels based on a previous survey. The Canadian Guideline for radon is 200 Bq/m3.
Visit the Take Action on Radon website, www.takeactiononradon.ca, to find Health Canada-approved tests, or call HPPH at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3670.
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