The Village of Nakusp is taking action this October to raise residents' awareness of the dangers of lung cancer by participating in the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. It is released into the air during the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil.
How Does It Get Into Our Homes?
Radon enters our homes and buildings through any areas in contact with the soil, such as small cracks in the foundations, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, floor drains and sumps.
What Is The Effect Of Radon?
Radon levels indoors can reach high concentrations, and long-term exposure to these radon levels greatly increases an individual's lifetime risk of developing lung cancer. An individual's risk depends on the radon level, exposure length, and smoking habits. Lung cancer can develop after many years of radon exposure. Health Canada estimates that about 16% of lung cancer deaths are related to exposure to radon in the home.
Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and it is estimated there are more than 3,200 radon-related lung cancer deaths in Canada each year.
SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE RADON TEST KIT
A free radon information session will be held on:
Monday, November 18, 2024, at 7 PM on Zoom. Participants can sign up online and will be sent a link to join the online session.
Participants can pick up their radon test from Tuesday, November 19, until Friday, November 22, at the Village of Nakusp Office ( 91 1st Ave NW, 8 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday) or the Nakusp Public Library (92 6th Ave NW, Tuesday through Saturday, Noon - 5 PM).