A University of Calgary (U of C) study revealed this week that southern Alberta homes are testing high for radon, including Cochrane.
Roughly one in eight homes exceeded the 200 Becqueral per metre cubed (Bq/m3) that Health Canada deems the maximum safe level, out of the 2,382 homes included in the study, between 2013-16.
Of these homes, 2,018 were located in Calgary and 364 in surrounding townships.
Renata MacQueen of Cochrane and Okotoks-based Radon West, a radon testing and mitigation company, said she hopes this will influence people to purchase a low-cost test kit.
“The Citizen Scientist project is still ongoing,” said MacQueen, adding that the numbers could come down as more homes are tested. She also said it’s important for people to understand that homes that test high can be easily mitigated and that homeowners should not be concerned about property value depreciation.
The odourless, colourless and tasteless gas is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer (next to smoking). It is only dangerous when the compressed gas can’t escape.
As of November 2015, the Alberta Building Code requires all new homes include a mitigation system rough-in. MacQueen said people should be mindful this is just a rough-in and that should their homes test high, they would still have to contact an independent company to install an actual mitigation system.
The ongoing study, conducted by cancer researcher Dr. Aaron Goodarzi of the Robson DNA Science Centre through the U of C, is looking for more participants.
The study revealed that no neighbourhoods are free of radon and that a high level of radon is a “major health concern in the Prairies.”
Cost to participate in the study is $60. To learn more visit dnascience.ca/radon. Results are anonymous.
