Editor’s note: The Renfrew County & District Health Unit (RCDHU) has today provided The Current with information about how residents can obtain free Radon test kits. Please scroll down for details of tonight’s event in Pembroke.
Take Action on Radon, a coalition of national health organizations, is working with the Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) to distribute 100 free radon test kits this November as part of a broader initiative to raise awareness about the health risks associated with radon and to collect data on radon levels in the District.
“Many Canadians still don’t know that radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and that simply reducing radon exposure can save lives,” says Pam Warkentin, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST), and Project Manager for Take Action on Radon. “We commend Renfrew County and District for its leadership in bringing attention to this cancer-causing gas and helping its residents test their home for it by participating in the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge.”
Radon is a radioactive gas that is released by the breakdown of uranium in the soil. It is odourless, tasteless, and colourless, and can enter buildings and enclosed spaces undetected. Since Canadian homes are sealed against the weather, radon can become trapped indoors, building up to dangerous levels. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon damages the DNA in our lung tissue and is currently leading to over 3,000 Canadian deaths each year – more than the combined toll of car collisions, house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and drowning combined.
Canadians need to be more proactive when it comes to protecting themselves and their loved ones from radon exposure. A recent study commissioned by Health Canada found that only 7 percent of Ontarians have tested their home for radon. To increase that number, the Government of Canada is committed to reducing the number of radon-induced cancer deaths in this country by working with their partners, stakeholders and community leaders to promote awareness and to encourage Canadians to take action against radon by having their homes tested.
Residents of Renfrew County and District can register for a FREE test kit, while supplies last, by calling RCDHU at 1-800-267-1097 EXT. 555 or 613-735-8654 EXT. 555. For more information and to pick-up one of the 100 radon test kits, residents must present themselves to the Pembroke Best Western Hotel on November 13th at 6 p.m.
Karagirwa,V. Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST)(2019,Oct.24) Renfrew County and District participates in 100 radon test kit Challenge [media release]
Image: facebook/renfrew county & district health unit
