The City of Rossland’s 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge has been well received by residents, with the city successfully distributing all 100 of its kits only seven days into the challenge.
Radon, according to Health Canada’s website, is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odourless, and tasteless, and is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
While radon is a concern across Canada, the City of Rossland is taking part in the test challenge because the community was once a mining town with disturbed soils that utilized slag heap piles, and because the majority of the city’s buildings are old.
“New home construction requires proper radon abatement built into the home, whereas a vast majority of the housing stock in our community is older, including my own home, which was built in 1900,” explained Rossland Mayor Andy Morel.
“These homes are the biggest concern. Folks are making their homes more efficient and more airtight, but if there are radon issues, that further complicates and exacerbates the problem. So that’s kind of the strategy the community is using to help educate the average citizen about the risk.”
The city has already allocated all 100 of its test kits to interested residents, with a waitlist now open. However, Mayor Morel says it’s likely the city will get more kits and encourages residents to join the waitlist if they’re interested in a kit.
Those who sign up for a kit or for the waitlist will be sent a link to a free online Radon Information session scheduled for November 14 at 7 p.m. The session will provide participants with basic information about radon, its health effects, and how to reduce levels if they are high.
Participants must be able to pick up their testing kit between November 15 and 22 at Rossland City Hall. It must be returned between March 3 and 7.
You can sign up for the program and waitlist here.
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