Are you concerned about radon and how it might be affecting you and your family? Well look no further; the District of Hope has partnered up with the British Columbia Lung Foundation (BC Lung), Take Action on Radon, and the Fraser Valley Regional District, to invite all residents to participate in the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge.
From Jan. 17 to Jan. 27, free radon test kits will be handed out at the District Hall. The kits, which are funded by Health Canada and the Vancouver Foundation, are part of the 100 Radon challenge. This is a campaign to encourage people to test their homes for radon levels — which is a colourless, odourless gas that can damage lung tissue and cause lung cancer when breathed in.
“[People] have a right to a healthy environment.,” says Noah Quastel, BC Lung’s director of law and policy and healthy indoor environments. “We want people to look indoors and think about how to create clean air for themselves. And to demand authorities that we have clean indoor air. And Radon is one of many indoor pollutants we have been ignoring and need to address. And doing so will improve [people’s] lives.”
Radon, which forms from the “radioactive decay of uranium,” can naturally be found in the ground. However, Quastel notes that higher amounts of it seem to be prevalent in the Cascade mountain area and in the river flowing from there. This is a concern as radon contributes to 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths, making it the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Though Canada has a National Radon Program, many Canadians are still unaware about radon and it’s effects on their health. As such, the 100 Radon Challenge campaign was formed in order to better understand the effects of radon on the different communities in the area.
“Not enough communities know if radon is a problem” said Quastel in a press release. “Architects, builders, building officials, school districts, daycare providers, and landlords are just some of the people who need to take radon seriously and prevent it in the spaces they are responsible for. It’s important for them to have community testing.
“Once a local government knows radon levels, they can begin to act, by ensuring government buildings are tested and mitigated, spreading education and awareness, or introducing changes to Clean Air Bylaws.”
Take Action on Radon is a national initiative funded by Health Canada, that works to raise awareness about radon. Meanwhile, BC Lung is promoting education, awareness, and a need for better laws and policies about radon.
According to the District, “residents who pick up test kits from January 17 to 27 will be able to return them to District of Hope Office from May 8 to 12 to ensure they are delivered to the lab for analysis.”
Those interested in learning more about the campaign can register at and visit takeactiononradon.ca/resources/100-radon-test-kit-challenge.