Understanding Radon And its effect on your health www.carst.ca - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Understanding Radon And its effect on your health www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Today: What is Radon • What impact does Radon have on Health • How to Fix it • 100 Test Kit Challenge • www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Rad adon i is a a Rad adio ioactive ive Gas as Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Rad adon i is a a natu aturally o occu ccurrin ing g gas as • Radon’ n’s radioacti active e proper erti ties es me mean • th that at i it s t spontaneously ch chan anges an and rel eleases en ener ergy gy The he en ener ergy rel elea eased ed c caus uses es da damage e • to t o the l he lun ung g cel ell t tissue ue – re resulting i in an increa reased r risk of of l lun ung g cancer er Radon is naturally occurring, but it can reach unnatural concentrations inside our buildings. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk How ow do w do we e know ow tha hat R Radon i is a hea health con oncern rn? - World H Health th O Organizati tion r recommends r reducing g level vels t to b below 1 100 00 Bq Bq/m /m 3 - Radon don i is a a know own c carci cinog ogen ( (Grou oup 1 1) - Number 1 1 cau cause of of l lung can cancer in non on-smokers In 2006 a report was produced that initiated a change in Health Canada’s radon action level from 800 Bq/m 3 to 200 Bq/m 3 . www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk + Radon – 800 Bq/m 3 1 in 20 non-smokers exposed to a 1 in 3 smokers exposed to a lifetime lifetime of high radon will die of of high radon will die of lung cancer. lung cancer. 3000 people per year in Canada are dying of radon related lung cancer. = 8 people per day www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Where i here is R Rado don a a concern ern? - Hom omes es - Schools - Any y buil ilding th that h at has as co contac act with the gr he grou ound ha has a a potential A 2012 Health Canada survey showed that 7% of Canadian homes are above guideline level. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Health th Canada a recommen ends C C-NRPP RPP • Rado don P Prof ofessionals Measu surement pr profe fessi ssionals s TE TEST f for or • radon Mitigation pr profe fessi ssionals RE s REDUCE r radon • level els in buildings gs Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Testing fo for r ra radon is easy • Tes est f for or a a minimum of of 91 1 da days dur during t g the he • hea heating s g sea eason Do o it y yours ourself or or hi hire e a profe ofessional • C-NRPP approved devices are listed at www.takeactiononradon.ca/test_kits www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Wha hat if you our r lev evel i is abov ove the he Gui uideline e lev evel el? A rad adon m miti tigat atio ion s sys ystem i is th the most • ef effective w way to r o reduc educe r rado don Sim imple t to main intain in • ALL HOMES CAN BE FIXED. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Na Nati tional al c code i e incl clud udes radon c contr trol Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk me measur ures es: Gravel un under der the he slab • We Well-seal ealed ed l liner er • Sealed ed sump mp pit • Rado don r roug ough-in f for future installation • Our government is changing policies to address radon. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk The r he rado don “ “rou ough-in in” i is n not a t a rad adon mitig tigatio ion s sys ystem; ; it’ t’s s simply th the begi eginning of of on one. e. Every ery hom home m mus ust b be t e tes ested ed for or rado don, t to o det determ ermine i e if the he rou ough gh-in n needs eeds to o be e com omplet eted with a a pipe e and nd f fan. n. The radon rough-in pipe is meant to be completed if required. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk 15 co communit itie ies acr across C Can anad ada with hi high gh rado don p pot oten ential but ut little te testin ing d data ata www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists 3 Easy S Step teps Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Log onto radonte testk tkitc tchallenge ge.ca or defitest estder eradon on.ca to • enter your start date and fill out the launch survey After 100 d 00 days, log back on to enter your end date and • complete the end survey Return your detector at the end of the testing period to: • location Encourage your friends and family to test their homes as well. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Encourage your friends and family to participate as well. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk • Please complete the START SURVEY as soon as possible after receiving your test. • Certain fields are REQUIRED to ensure you get a radon test report after the 100 days which matches with your serial number on your test kit. • Certain fields are OPTIONAL, we are including a HOUSING SURVEY for research purposes. NOTE : Getting your start survey completed is really important. This is required to receive your report at the end of the 100 days. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk • If you receive TWO detectors, they are part of our QUALITY ASSURANCE checks on our detectors. • Place the detectors SIDE by SIDE and enter BOTH serial numbers on the START SURVEY. QUALITY ASSURANCE: these additional detectors are an important part of our project. They will ensure the integrity of all the test results. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk • If you receive TWO detectors, return both at the same time • Complete the END Survey at: www.radontestkitchallenge.ca RETURN YOUR DETECTOR AFTER 100 DAYS. www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Co Community ty L Liaison Community liaison name: For any questions, contact our Project Lead: Erin Curry info@takeactiononradon.ca 514 977-7557 or 1-855-722-6777 DROP OFF LOCATION: www.carst.ca

Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists Helping Canadians Reduce Radon Risk Questi uestions, c s, commen ents? s? www.carst.ca