SFU CITIZEN SCIENTIST PROJECT ON RADON RADON GAS TESTING IN AREA 1 HOMES MAHSA ATHARI, BSC PROJECT COORDINATOR WWW.SFU.CA/RADON
OVERVIEW • Project Aims • Regions Tested • Population • Methods • Learnings • Future Direction
PROJECT AIMS • To increase the number of homes that have tested for radon gas in Metro Vancouver • To better understand the variables that influence radon levels in homes • To learn about the effectiveness of various outreach methods
REGION TESTED
A FEW STATS • Total population in the region: • North and West Vancouver: 181,000 (2016) • Sea to Sky Corridor: 42,000 (2015) • Previous testing by Health Canada: 81 Homes • Percentage tested above 200 Bq/m 3 : 2.5% • Testing done in 2009-2011 • Average number of single-detached homes: 34,000 • Average occupancy per home: 2.4
POPULATION • Families and staff connected to schools testing through Vancouver Coastal Health (91) • General Residents of: • North Vancouver and West Vancouver (248) • Sunshine Coast (13) • Sea to Sky Corridor (35) • Other (6) • SFU faculty, staff and students (37)
METHODS PRE • Obtained SFU ethics approval prior to launch • Confidentiality and trust by using University as a platform DURING • Co-testing with Vancouver Coastal Health Initiative with schools • Website and Media coverage (Newspaper, Radio Interviews) • Presentation at Squamish City Hall • Word of mouth and community engagement • Distribution methods POST • Collection methods • Post-Testing survey
VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH LETTER TO PARENTS
NEWS ARTICLES
DISTRIBUTION METHODS
THE DEVICE
POST-91 DAYS List of options for returning kit to be tested Preferred Method Selected by participant: I will drop off the test kit to one of the researchers at SFU’s 1. Burnaby Campus 2. I will arrange to have a researcher come and collect the test kit from my home 3. I will use the pre-addressed envelope provided to me to ship back the envelope and pay the $15 cost of shipping to Canada Post or a courier
LEARNINGS • People care about their health and their home • Collaborating with existing health initiatives • Media coverage reaches a larger audience • Credibility of the University • Organizational structure • Points of contact • Prepare for chaos!
FUTURE DIRECTION • Through additional funding, the project will be extended to reach greater numbers of participants in the region in Fall 2018. • Greater emphasis on Whistler and Squamish • Project report based on findings • Mitigation efforts post result distribution • Collaboration with Municipalities towards building code implementation
THANK YOU
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