INDOOR AIR QUALITY Don’t write off radon

Don’t write off radon radon

A report by Take Action on Radon (TAOR) reveals the overwhelming majority of communities which took part in its Radon Test Kit Challenge program are finding dangerous levels of radon are much more common than Health Canada’s national estimate that only seven per cent of Canadian homes have elevated radon levels. “Our 2021 results paint a much different picture than Health Canada’s summaries,” f says Pam Warkentin, of TAOR. “Almost all of the communities we’ve worked with have seen radon levels which far exceed Health Canada’s estimates.” Radon gas is a serious problem, as exposure to elevated levels can lead to lung cancer. “Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and if you smoke the combined risk is even higher. The only way to determine if your home has high levels of radon is to test. We encourage people in Canada to test their homes for radon as soon as possible and take action to reduce levels if necessary,” says Lynn Murad, senior specialist cancer prevention with the Canadian Cancer Society. In 2012, Health Canada released a report summarizing its CrossCanada Survey of Radon

han Health mate that only dian homes vels. t a much Health e ’s ead gas is the averages ranged from ancer in four per cent to 25 per usmoke the cent, and their estimated national average was seven per cent. “I was shocked by our citizen science results,” says Warkentin. “Particularly as we’re seeing high levels across the country. Of the 43 communities we have tested so far, 39 communities are at or above Health Canada’s national estimate.” “Relying on provincial averages to address the radon problem

A Canada-wide citizen science initiative conducted over the past three years has uncovered a startling trend: radon levels consistently above provincial and national estimates.

Figure 1 Distribution of test kits Figure 1 Distribution of test kits by province from 2019 to 2021. by province from 2019 to 2021.

Concentration in Homes. This work, which measured radon in almost 14,000 homes, provided an estimate of the percentage of homes with radon levels above 200 Bq/m3 on the national, provincial and health region levels. Overall, Health Canada’s provincial

Technical Note

A Becquerel is a unit that measures the amount of radiation given off per second. A Bq/m3 is a measurement of radioactive activity in a cubic metre of air. averages ranged from four per cent to 25 per centandtheirestimated

in Canada is just not working,” says Anne-Marie Nicol, an associate professor of health science at Simon Fraser University. “Provincial averages obscure the fact that there are many regions where radon action is urgently needed. We need to start talking about radon at a much more local level. Right now, there are very few provincial policies that protect people from radon exposure. The Radon Test Kit Challenge has shown us that many municipalities are interested and willing to take action once they know about the radon in their region,” notes Nicol.

Erin Curry, a TAOR lead, says “Each year, the more test kits we distribute, the more homes we find with elevated levels. It is a misconception to think that radon is a problem just in certain areas. We are finding elevated levels in all regions; in small towns and larger cities and in all types and ages of homes.” It has been almost 10 years since the Cross-Canada Survey was released, but most provinces and communities still aren’t addressing radon in a meaningful way. One big hurdle is that the data has not been easily accessible at the community level, and granular results are buried in averages. Once communities do engage in radon testing, they are often empowered to protect their citizens; communities in several provinces have implemented changes to building practices, provided mitigation grants, or made testing more accessible to their residents.

About Take Action on Radon

Take Action on Radon is a national initiative that works to bring together radon stakeholders and raise radon awareness across Canada. The initiative is led by the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST), CAREX Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society. TakeActionOnRadon.ca

Figure 2 Results from all 43 communities in Canada that have taken part in the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge, as compared to Health Canada’s national estimate.

What is Radon?

Radon is an odourless, colourless, radioactive soil gas that is formed as uranium breaks down over time. Radon gas is unstable and releases alpha particles, a type of radiation that is particularly damaging to lung tissues. Radon is a problem across Canada as uranium is present in the soils and rocks of all regions. Radon poses a problem indoors as it enters buildings from the surrounding soil through the foundation. Over time, radon gas levels can build up and exceed don gas levels can build u up and exceed recommended guidelines, posing a health risk. d guidelines, posing a hea e lth risk.

Search radon at at mechanicalbusiness.com usiness.com for more helpful resources. pful resources.

WORKERS NEEEDED

1 in 5

Number of jobs Skilled Trades Ontario estimates will be in the trades by 2025. 29

Average age of an apprentice today. 350,000

Number of skilled labour jobs Ontario will be short of by 2025, according to Skilled Trades Ontario.

HOME SMART HOME

258.54

Million of residences worldwide in 2021 considered to be smart homes with remote-controlled devices, appliances or security. The U.S. is the largest market for smart home automation, where 50 per cent of households have at least one smart home device. 30

Percentage of U.S. consumers who bought smart thermostats in 2020, the third most popular smart home device that year. Number one was smart televisions (55 per cent), followed by connected intelligent security systems (31 per cent).

SUGAR SHACK SEASON

75

Percentage of the world’s maple syrup Canada produces, 92 per cent from Quebec, four per cent from New Brunswick, three per cent from Ontario and one per cent from Nova Scotia. 40

Gallons of maple sap it takes to produce one gallon of maple syrup. 14.3 million

Gallons of maple syrup harvested by Canadian producers in 2020, a new record. 68

Number of countries in 2020 that imported Canadian maple products, including the U.S. (59.1per cent), Germany (9.8 per cent), the U.K. (six per g p y p p cent), Australia 5.2 per cent), Japan (4.8 per cent), France (4.4 per cent), Australia 5.2 per cent), Japan (4.8 per cent), France (4.4 per cent), and other countries (10.8 per cent). her countries (10.8 per cent).

BOOSTING OSTING EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY

250

Average litres of water per person Canadians use each day. That compares to 330 L in 2005 before water efficient household appliances entered the market. 500,000

Estimated number of single detached houses in BC that the government believes may benefit from home performance upgrades. 61.6

Percentage of the energy used in the average Canadian home on space heating, according to Natural Resources Canada. Water heating accounts for 19.3 per cent, appliances for 13.6 per cent, lighting for 3.6 per cent, and space cooling for 1.9 per cent.

Percentage of Canadian employees who will be eligible to retire by 2026, according to a 2022 report from the Conference Board of Canada. Industries that will be most hard hit include construction, manufacturing and healthcare. Just less than 10 per cent of workers in the skilled trades will be eligible to retire by the end of 2026.