Application deadline for home radon test is Thursday

Local residents have the opportunity to qualify for a free radon test to measure the amount of radon present in their homes.

Earlier this month, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) launched a study to learn more about local radon levels.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium found in rocks and soils.

“You can’t see, taste or smell radon. It can enter buildings through cracks in foundation floors and walls, gaps in pipes, open floor drains, or any other area of exposed soil,” said Andrew Landy, interim manager Healthy Environments at HPEPH. “In confined spaces like a home, radon can build up to high levels becoming a health risk. The likelihood of high radon levels cannot be predicted by the age or location of a home, and all homes are at risk.”

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH.

“We know that long-term exposure to radon is a health risk, and the only way to know if there is radon in your home is to test for it.”

To ensure representation from across the region, homeowners interested in participating in the radon study will be required to complete a survey application. Survey applications are available online at hpepublichealth.ca/radon until end of day on Nov. 21, 2019.