By Mark Squibb
The City of Mount Pearl has partnered with the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) to provide 400 residents with free radon test kits.
Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in Canada and often goes undetected.
The kits, which are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, will be made available to the first 400 residents to register at mountpearl.ca/radon-testing. Registration also includes information on the health effects of radon, and Health Canada’s recommendations.
“The Radon Test Kit Challenge is a great opportunity to help Mount Pearl families protect their health,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “With increased awareness of air quality, reducing radon gas is vital to lung cancer prevention.”
The Town of Conception Bay South recently offered a similar program, and just this week learned that of the 111 homes tested, 30 per cent were above Health Canada’s acceptable radon gas levels. According to the federal government, the average number of homes that test positive across Canada is only about seven per cent.
Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that results from the breakdown of uranium in soil.
