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“Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.
Recommendations for Radon Testing:
The "Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools.”
“…Health Canada recommends testing all homes below the third floor.”
Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Public Health Officer, recommends testing all homes for excessive radon levels:
“…Nova Scotians have plenty to do to make sure their homes are safe. But that’s no reason to ignore the potential risks associated with excess exposure to radon.
Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels increases the risk of lung cancer. In fact, experts now consider radon to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking. However, smokers have about a tenfold risk of lung cancer from radon, compared with non-smokers, because radon byproducts can become attached to smoke particles be trapped in the lungs, where they irritate tissue cells. Health Canada estimates that 1,900 Canadians die annually from radon induced lung cancer.
Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels increases the risk of lung cancer. In fact, experts now consider radon to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking. However, smokers have about a tenfold risk of lung cancer from radon, compared with non-smokers, because radon byproducts can become attached to smoke particles be trapped in the lungs, where they irritate tissue cells. Health Canada estimates that 1,900 Canadians die annually from radon induced lung cancer.
Fortunately, the lung cancer risk from radon can be reduced, saving hundreds of lives a year. Apart from quitting smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke, the most important step is to test homes for radon.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that the actionable radon threshold levels for remedial mitigation control systems be 100 Bq/cu m.
(Canadian actionable levels are currently 200 Bq/cu m.)
(Canadian actionable levels are currently 200 Bq/cu m.)
But the WHO also says:
“There is no known threshold below which radon exposure carries no risk. The lower the radon concentration in a home, the lower the risk.”
“There is no known threshold below which radon exposure carries no risk. The lower the radon concentration in a home, the lower the risk.”
And:
“Radon exposure increases the risk of lung cancer for everyone, whether they are current, former or never-smokers.”
“Radon exposure increases the risk of lung cancer for everyone, whether they are current, former or never-smokers.”
But:
“Radon is easy to measure and you can easily protect your family from radon.”
“Radon is easy to measure and you can easily protect your family from radon.”
Radon Information Web Sites:
Dr. Oz, Feb.10, 2011, The Little Cough That Kills, Lung Cancer and Radon
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/1-cancer-risk-home-pt-1
Maine introduces Act to lower Lung Cancer Rates. All rental properties in the state must be tested for radon by 2012.
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eng/rad/Radon/PL%20278%20fact%20sheet.htm
May 5, 2010 - NY Times-New Alarm Bells About Chemicals, Radon, and Cancer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/opinion/06kristof.html
May 7, 2010 - President's Cancer Panel Releases Annual Report, (radon is named as a serious health problem)
http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf
Sept.22, 2009 Geneva - The World Health Organization sets Radon Action Levels
http//www.prlog.org/10349595-world-health-organization-who-sets-radon-action-level-of-27-less-lung-cancer-risk-than-epa-40.html
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/
United States Environment Protection Association
www.epa.gov/radon/
www.epa.gov/radon/
Nova Scotia Government
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/airlandwater/radon.asp
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/airlandwater/radon.asp
Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
World Health Organization
www.who.int
www.who.int
