Lakelands Public Health is bringing the 100 radon test kit challenge to Haliburton County. It is a national initiative led by Take Action on Radon, with support from Health Canada, to increase radon awareness and testing in communities across the country.
In early November, 100 free radon test kits will be available to Haliburton County residents who register to join the challenge. Testing is easy – simply register online, pick up a free test kit, and place it in your home for at least 91 days, and finally, return the test kit for processing and results. All participants will receive their radon test report by email with results.
If radon results are above recommended levels, it is up to the homeowner to address remediation.
“Currently, there is limited data and information available on the radon levels of homes within Haliburton County,” said Sue Shikaze, health promoter with Lakelands Public Health. “By joining the 100 radon test kit challenge, we hope to make testing more accessible to residents and encourage homeowners to take this simple but important step to protect their health.”
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. It forms underground as radioactive metals naturally break down in rocks and soil. Outside, radon is diluted and does not pose a significant health risk. However, when radon seeps into indoor spaces, it can reach levels that can be harmful to human health. This can happen in buildings and homes through foundation cracks in concrete floors and walls; gaps in plumbing and support posts; floor drains and sump pumps.
Long-term exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, contributing to 3,000-plus deaths in Canada each year. Because radon levels vary between homes, individual testing is the only way to determine whether a home has elevated levels.
Registration is open for Haliburton County residents at TakeActionOnRadon. ca. Test kits will be available to pick up Nov. 3-7 at libraries in Dysart, 78 Maple Ave., and Wilberforce, 1101 Holmes Rd.
Participants are also invited to a free online radon information session to learn more about the health effects of radon, why it is a concern, what Health Canada recommends for homeowners, and how to participate in the challenge. Details will be emailed upon registration.
If residents have questions, they can contact Shikaze at 1-844-575-4567 or sshikaze@lakelandsph.ca. To learn more about the health impacts of radon, and how to get a free radon test kit in other parts of Lakelands Public Health area, visit LakelandsPH.ca/Radon.
