Community Corner

What is sneaking into our basements?

Did you know that Radon in our homes is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers?  
Did you know that Northwestern Ontario has had the second highest percentage of homes in Ontario that have tested above the safe Radon Guideline? 
Did you know that testing for Radon is easy and fixing the problem is easy? 
According to Health Canada “Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When Radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces like homes, it can accumulate to high levels. High Radon levels can be a risk to the health of you and your family”. 
Breathing in high levels of Radon over time can cause lung cancer but it is easy to prevent. 
There are several ways of testing to see if the Radon level in your house is at a safe, recommended level.  Purchase a kit at the Hardware Store. If they do not have them in, they will order one for you.  Keep it as directed for three months, and then send the results away to the address in the kit. Or you can get a Radon Detector on loan from the Public Library here in town.   If your results come back showing that Radon is seeping into your home at a dangerous level, the problem can be fixed by calling in a service person to patch up cracks and holes from where it is leaking. In some cases a special technician might need to be called. 
Protecting ourselves from Radon is a reliable and effective way of preventing serious illness. 

Source: Radon: About - Canada.ca

Submitted by Councillor Joyce Timpson and the Municipal Environment Committee