JAM (2005) Enterprises
C-NRPP- Certified Radon Gas Testing and Measurement
Your Family's Health
is Key
What is radon gas ?
Radon is a colourless, tasteless, and odourless radioactive gas that will seep into your house from soil and water, through cracks, foundation irregularities, gaps, sump pits, silicon-based construction materials and even from some granite countertops. Do Not confuse this with carbon monoxide or methane (natural gas). Radon gas is totally different !!
Radon is everywhere ! No one and no place is exempt from exposure! Homes, schools, daycare centres, nursing homes, hospitals, offices, businesses - all will have radon - any structure which is in contact with the ground. It is the level that is important!
Why should I care about this?
Radon gas exposure is the SECOND leading CAUSE of LUNG CANCER in North America, only surpassed by smoking.
Approximately 3 200 Canadians (847 or 13.6% in Ontario) die each year from PREVENTABLE radon-induced lung cancer! Preventable because a simple test would have identified a radon gas problem ! For some unknown reason, women seem to be twice as likely to get and die from this form of cancer. The five year survival rate for lung cancer is between 13 and 18%. Detection is important !
If you, or someone in your family, are smokers --- your risk increases significantly (900%) !! Radioactive radon decay products (RDP) produced when radon breaks down, actually attach to smoke and dust particles that you or your family members (and pets) inhale. These actually can initiate the cancer. Second hand smoke can be deadly. A great reason to quit! A good reason for testing! See http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_smokers-fumeurs/index-eng.php
How Do I Know If My Family is at Risk ?
The ONLY way to know for sure is to have radon gas levels MEASURED by a C-NRPP-certified radon measurement professional (that is I) or by homeowner-purchased test kit.* (see "Do-It-Yourself Testing" section for test kit limitations before you purchase one). I sell the Accustar AT-100 (long-term alpha track detector) at a competitive price for DIY testing - see DIY Testing section for details.This is the #1 rated long-term test kit by Consumer Reports 2014- 2024 and is used by both professionals and consumers. Either way GET IT MEASURED !
A Canadian Statistic
2012 March - Health Canada found that 6.9% of homes across Canada have radon levels in excess of the radon guideline set by Health Canada.
2014 June - A new study indicated similar data. In NB, PEI, the Yukon and MB, it's closer to 25% . Some counties in SW Ontario are over 18% ! In my testing of London and surrounding areas, I have found nearly 20% of houses above the limit.
IS YOURS ONE OF THESE HOMES ?
Would you put your family beside a radioactive waste dump ?
–A family whose home has radon levels equivalent to the US EPA's (4 pCi/L = 148 Bq/m3 Canadian units) maximum exposure level is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow if that family were standing next to the fence of a radioactive waste site !!!
As Dirty Harry once said
"Do you feel lucky today" ?
What radon gas levels are dangerous ?
Health Canada has reduced the maximum exposure level within the last few years by 300 % ! However, any exposure even below the maximum level (200 Bq/m3) is not wanted. There is no safe level ! Exposure to low levels over many years is equally dangerous. Dr. Maria Neira from the World Health Organization says "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low- and medium-dose exposures in people's homes." "Research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer " (Tom Kelly, Director of the Indoor Environments Division for the US EPA.) The Canadian exposure level is still 2x higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and approximately 1.5 x greater than that recommended by the US EPA. Children because of the growing tissues are most vulnerable to radioactivity and have a potential lifetime of radon exposure !
Do you have children at home? What about radon levels in their school, childcare centre? Do we test these in Ontario ? NO! What or who is protecting them?
What about exposure for your beloved pets ? They have 24-7 exposure! Your beloved pets are also susceptible to radon-induced lung cancer risks.
ARE YOU A STATISTIC?
You will never know until you measure
the radon gas levels !