The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is looking to raise awareness about a silent killer.
The health unit is proceeding with an initiative designed to enhance education about radon and its risks, as well as encourage contractors to comply with new rough-in regulations.
Health Canada conducted a nationwide study of residential radon levels in 2012, which showed that 13.8 per cent of homes tested in Windsor-Essex had radon levels at or above 200 Becquerels per cubic metre. This was comparable to a more recent three-year study by the health unit, which indicated that 11 per cent of the homes tested in the region had those levels of radon.
Phil Wong, manager of the WECHU's environmental health department, said that while radon does not get the attention carbon monoxide or other deadly gases get, it's still something that must be taken seriously.
"Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, just after smoking," said Wong. "It's something that should be on people's radar. One thing with radon is that it is a silent killer. You don't know it's there. You can't see it, smell it. You've got to test for it."
Contractors have been required since the beginning of January to adhere to a new radon rough-in requirement for all new residential construction. These guidelines, as recommended by the health unit, include changing municipal building codes to include rough-ins for new residential development, and requiring radon testing in all municipally-owned public buildings or buildings with on-site municipal staff. Partnering with public libraries, school boards, and licenced childcare centres to promote radon testing is also suggested.
Wong said radon kits can be purchased at hardware stores, and there are two types, short-term and long-term.
"What we want is for you to do a long-term test kit because that gives you more of a general, long-term average on what your radon level is in your home," said Wong. "The short-term is more like a snapshot. We see a lot of real estate agencies using short-term test kits."
Complete information on radon, its health effects, and how you can protect your home from it can be found on the health unit's official website.