Interior Health Authority Suggests Radon Testing
Salmon Arm and surrounding areas may be an area
with elevated gas levels.
A reduction in the federal guidelines on acceptable levels of radon gas has
increased concern at the Interior Health Authority. Health authority
officials are now recommending that homeowners in the interior test their
homes for the presence of this radioactive gas caused by the decay of
uranium, which is found everywhere in the earth’s crust at different
concentrations.
Prior to 2007, the national guideline level for radon in the homes and other
dwellings was 800 Becquerels (units of
radioactivity) per cubit metre. But research has indicated that the gas is
harmful at much lower levels and Health Canada and the Federal Provincial
Territorial Radiation Protective Committee have sent the guideline level at
a much lower 200 Becquerels per cubic metre. “They did another risk
assessment. The revisited the risk of lung cancer and found that it was
significantly higher then they thought”, said Ken Christian, director of
health protection with Interior Health.
Interior Health together with Radiation Protective Services of the Centre
for Disease including Control recently completed a voluntary radon gas
follow-up survey of indoor spaces in the North Thompson Valley. Testing was
carried out from October 2006 to April 2007 in the area between Barrier and
Blue River. Results indicate that 11 of 19 homes tested in the Barrier area
and 9 of the 31 homes tested in the Clearwater area exceeded the revised
Health Canada guidelines. But Christian says all areas east of the Coast
Mountains are at potential risk, including Salmon Arm and area. “There were
some uranium deposits toward Turtle Mountain area and there could be some
off-gassing from those,” he says, explaining why homeowners in the area
should test their homes. Christian points out that levels may very
significant, even amongst neighboring homes, depending on soil
characteristics, construction detail, age and ventilation. “Because of the
health risks associated with radon, Interior Health recommends that all
residents test their homes for radon so they can make an informed choice
weather or not to remeditate their homes,” he says. “If you’re above the 200
level, you should look at taking action because radon is a significant risk
factor for lung cancer. If you are a non-smoker with high radon, you
virtually double your risk for getting lung cancer. He recommends that
homeowners have an alpha particle detector installed, a device that
resembles a small tin of shoe polish, and place it in the main living area
of the home - bedroom or living room – leave it for six months, preferably
over the winter heating season. “We want to warn people, but it’s not a
public health problem per se, it’s an individual property owner’s problem
because that’s where they spend most of the time,” says Christian. The cost
of mitigating a radon problem could be significant if there are ceiling
cracks or sub-slab ventilation problems. But there’s another cost you have
to consider, you have to weigh that against the cost of lung cancer”.
Salmon Arm Observer
Barb Brouwer
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007.