Turning the Radar on Radon by Steve Bond, BScPhm,
in over time, the greater the likelihood of the radiation causing changes in our lungs, leading to cancer. The best way to reduce our risk is to reduce exposure, but first, we need to measure it. Radon can be measured by hiring a certified radon professional or by purchasing an approved radon do-it-yourself kit. Some kits are single-use, and after three months, you send them to a lab for analysis. Newer kits are digital and can even send alarms to your smartphone. The Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) approves, monitors, and gives an unbiased report on different devices. I recommend that you check out their website before purchasing. The ideal time to test is between September and April when doors and windows are most likely to be closed. So how much is too much? The current Health Canada guideline for acceptable levels of Radon inside buildings is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). (A becquerel is a measurement of radioactivity.) According to Health Canada standards, buildings above this level would be concerning. The World Health Association (WHO) recommends lowering that standard to 100. A 2014 study found that by doing this, we could prevent twice as many Radon-induced lung cancer deaths. If you test and your levels are too high, contact a radon-certified expert. Some ways to reduce or mitigate Radon include allowing more fresh air into the home, sealing off entry points, or using a mitigation system that uses a pipe that is put through the basement floor and then vents the gas to the outside. So, let’s take action on Radon. I know that if more people did, I would breathe easier. Take care of yourselves and each other.
YRPh, CDE, FASCP Yurek Pharmacy & Home Healthcare
November is known for Remem- brance Day, American Thanks- giving and a series of Santa Claus parades. It also commemorates Lung Cancer Awareness Month
and Radon Action Month . It’s no coincidence that awareness of lung cancer and radon are paired in November. After smoking, radon is the second leading modifiable risk for lung cancer and when combined, smoking and radon dramatically increase the risk! Exposure to Radon gas is responsible for killing 3200 Canadians annually, more than the number killed by car accidents in Canada each year. Radon is a tasteless, odourless, invisible, radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium in the soil. When released out of the ground, it quickly scatters in the air and normally poses little threat. In a sealed home, however, it can leak in through drains, cracks, and crevices in the foundation and accumulate, posing a significant health hazard. According to Health Canada’s most recent Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, 6.9% of homes in the country had higher than acceptable levels of Radon. In Elgin-St.Thomas, the rate was higher than average at 7.6%. (London and Middlesex is 1.8. I guess we have 25% more life and 400% more Radon!). The more gas we breathe
Work does not stop because it's COLD !
Be prepared with Milwaukee Heated Vests & Jackets, winter safety wear and warm work gloves.
Milwaukee M12 Heated Jacket
THE TURKEY SHOPPE 39 Burwell Road, St. Thomas, ON (519) 633-5884 • sales@r-safety.ca • www.r-safety.ca
10882 Sunset Rd. Just North of Talbotville Monday-Friday 9-5:30 Saturday 9-4 See us at the Horton Christmas Market November 16th, 10 am – 4 pm
Stop in today for our Stuffed Turkey Breast Log Mouthwatering Turkey Meatballs and Turkey Meatloaf
519-633-0527 www.turkeyshoppe. com
FRESH LOCAL TURKEY
Hometown St. Thomas • November 2024 • Page 41
Get involved! Like us on Facebook!
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs