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Radon detectors popular at libraries

Eco Superior’s short term digital radon detector loan program a success.

THUNDER BAY -- Late last year, Eco Superior launched a digital radon detector loan program in public libraries in the region. Funded through Health Canada, the program is running in six communities (Thunder Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, Dorion, Nipigon, Red Rock and Marathon) so far, but 2020 will see more communities in Northwest Ontario getting radon detectors.

Each library started with one detector per branch, with the exception of Oliver Paipoonge (an area known for higher radon levels) which got two. “Weve been really successful, all of the detectors have had really good uptake,” says EcoSuperior Program Coordinator Caroline Cox.

There is no deposit required to check out a detector; a library card is all you need. “We’ve actually received feedback from the library saying that some people have come in for a library card just to get their radon device,” says Cox.

She monitors wait times in each location, aiming for a wait time of less than six months. “Most of the small communities have wait times of a little bit under three months and Oliver Paipoonge is just under six months. In Thunder Bay we actually added a couple of detectors because our wait times exceeded one year,” she says.

“We’ve done a lot of previous work on radon [awareness] in Thunder Bay, and it shows that people are aware of radon and know they need to test. We know that it’s inconvenient that people need to wait, but it’s also a really good sign that lots of people already knew about radon,” says Cox.

The detectors give data after 24 hours, but the data doesn’t become very accurate until it has been running for about a week. Since you can check one out for three weeks, Eco Superior recommends that people test as close to three weeks as they can. If people want to test multiple locations in a house, they can test one location, then reset and test another location, but they should make sure each test is at least a week long.

The short term devices are still not as accurate as long-term devices, which are certified and take at least three months for testing. If people are debating making costly changes to their home, they should verify with a long term test, Cox says.

Anywhere where the home’s foundation comes in contact with the surrounding soil and there is any type of opening (such as a sump pit or crack in the foundation) can be an entry point for radon. Floor drains can also be an entry point, especially if the water in the P trap has gone dry.

Health Canada says you do not need to retest your home after you have had a safe result, but there are circumstances under which you should, says Cox. “Any type of renovation that could change the air flow in your home could change your [radon] levels.” Major construction next door, such as digging a foundation for a new home, could also affect your home’s radon levels.

“Radon moves through the soil and it wants to take the easiest path. If there’s construction next door, you just want to follow up and make sure that the easiest path hasn’t changed,” she explains.

Radon is measured in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). Health Canada recommends that homes should not exceed 200 Bq/m3, which is more lenient than the EPA in the U.S. (150 Bq/m3) or the WHO (100 Bq/m3). “We do find some people in the 100-200 range, and if there are easy and cheap solutions to lower their radon levels, many people opt to do that. For instance, a sealed sump pit cover costs $200-$300,” says Cox.

With radon accounting for 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths in Canadians, Cox says everyone should test for radon. While the location of your home may indicate whether or not you’re more likely to have high radon levels (65 per cent of homes in Oliver Paipoonge tested in 2017-2018 had high radon levels) levels can vary greatly from home to home, even those side by side.

All Thunder Bay Public Library branches are closed temporarily due to COVID-19.

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