WESTVILLE - A silent killer could be winding its way through some Pictou County homes putting lives at risk.
Rodney Misener, owner of Westville-based Trinity Inspection Services Ltd., said radon gas could pose a serious health risk to local homeowners who are oblivious to its presence because it is colourless and odourless.
"The Department of Natural Resources has maps that show it is prominent in Pictou County and in Nova Scotia in general," said Misener.
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment. It is created from the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rocks.
Despite annual public service announcements from Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection urging homeowners to test for the gas, Misener said few are initiating testing adopting an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude because the danger isn't tangible.
"It's just one of those things there is not enough awareness and there is not enough education about," said the home inspector.
"It's a health concern, bottom line. Your home is where you spend most of your time."
He said the gas is sometimes expelled into homes though exposed dirt floor crawl spaces, cracks in foundations and can leach into water.
Winter is an ideal time to test for radon. Because windows and doors are closed, the test gives an accurate measure of how much radon is accumulating in living spaces from soil underneath buildings.
"When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and not a concern," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer.
"However, in enclosed spaces like homes, it can sometimes accumulate to high levels, which can create a health risk. If you're exposed to elevated levels over many years, you are at increased risk for lung cancer - especially if you are a smoker."
Misener said anyone considering a home purchase should also consider having it tested for radon gas and other potential hazards.
"I always say to people, 'You wouldn't buy a car before you took it around the block for a test drive so why would you buy a house before testing it out?'"
Health Canada says most radon problems are easily resolved, however, homeowners may want to hire a contractor to perform the necessary mitigation or remediation.
Reducing Radon
• Seal all cracks and openings in foundation walls and floors and around pipes and drains
• Paint basement floors and foundation walls with two coats of paint and a sealant
• Renovate existing basement floors, particularly earth floors
• Testing devices, including mail-in laboratory analysis, are available through environmental testing companies or on the Internet
For more information on radon gas, testing, and the Health Canada guidelines, go to the Department of Environment's website at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/airlandwater/radon.asp.
Hey Dave, According to the bottom of the article there is a link to the Nova Scotia's government website with many resources and testing options that are available to Nova Scotian's. "For more information on radon gas, testing, and the Health Canada guidelines, go to the Department of Environment's website at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/airlandwater/radon.asp." Too bad JUST and JOE never finished reading the article. They must be pretty confident Radon gas is a pretend problem, maybe they should be interviewed next time.