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Test-to-Live
Healthy!
We provide radon testing, abatement and radon public health education to the people of Lunenburg county in Nova Scotia.
What is Radon and Why is Testing and Abatement Necessary?
Radon is a radioactive gas, which comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, and homes with or without basements. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water, which is released into the air by dishwashers, showers, humidifiers etc. Hot air furnaces can also circulate radon throughout the house in the wintertime. All these sources can contribute to the total radon health threshold level.
You can’t see radon and you can’t smell or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.
Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year in Canada and the United States. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer caused by its radioactive decay alpha particles. The American Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today, resulting in 21,000 deaths each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Testing:
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. The American Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon and the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection recommends that all homeowners in the province test their homes for radon.
If the radon level is found to be above 200 Bq/M3, then a radon reduction system can be retrofitted to the house or building for a relatively modest cost. (Several hundred dollars) Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in the home by up to 99%.
If the radon level is found to be above 200 Bq/M3, then a radon reduction system can be retrofitted to the house or building for a relatively modest cost. (Several hundred dollars) Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in the home by up to 99%.
The south shore, according to the Canadian Radon Map, has its homes greater than a 20% risk of being higher than the Canadian Guide Lines and thus needing the installation of a radon abatement system. With the new WHO guidelines this could rise to 35%, but the EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk – no level of radon is safe. 16 out of every 52 houses in Lunenburg county could exceed the new WHO guidelines.
Smart home buyers should also have their possible new homes tested before purchasing, and home sellers should have their homes tested as an additional sales asset.
Smart home buyers should also have their possible new homes tested before purchasing, and home sellers should have their homes tested as an additional sales asset.
Abatement:
“Abatement for houses can be obtained using several proven methods to reduce radon in your home, but the one primarily used is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil suction radon reduction system, does not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. Radon contractors can use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.” (from: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon, US EPA)
“Abatement for houses can be obtained using several proven methods to reduce radon in your home, but the one primarily used is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil suction radon reduction system, does not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. Radon contractors can use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.” (from: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon, US EPA)
Radon the Silent Killer!
Radon causes lung cancer!
Radon is a radioactive gas present in homes.
Radon is easy to measure.
You can easily protect your family from radon.
Nova Scotia has the highest cancer rate in Canada.
