Starting immediately, complimentary radon test kits will be accessible at all 63 public libraries in New Brunswick, as announced by the provincial Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training. These kits will feature a 90-day test along with detailed information regarding radon gas.
N.B. Lung’s spokesperson mentioned that this initiative positions New Brunswick as the first province in Canada to offer free radon testing to the general public. Dusty Green from N.B. Lung expressed enthusiasm, highlighting the significance of making testing accessible to individuals who previously found it financially challenging.
Under the new program, individuals will be instructed to use the one-time-use kits, return them to the library, and subsequently, the kits will be forwarded to the Research and Productivity Council for analysis. Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours emphasized that homeowners will then receive recommendations on how to mitigate radon levels in their residences.
Radon, a naturally occurring gas resulting from uranium breakdown in soil, is both radioactive and difficult to detect. It can infiltrate homes through various entry points like cracks in foundations, floors, walls, and around pipes.
Last fall, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) unanimously agreed to distribute free kits to residents of New Brunswick. Health Canada’s guideline stipulates a maximum radon level of 200 becquerels per cubic meter, urging corrective measures for homes exceeding this threshold.
Recent data from non-profit organization Take Action on Radon revealed that out of 100 homes tested in Grand Bay-Westfield, 28 surpassed Health Canada’s radon level guideline.
N.B. Lung previously offered a lending program for radon tests with 30-day kits at select libraries, but the introduction of more precise 90-day kits has been lauded as a significant enhancement by Green. He emphasized the importance of 90-day kits as the optimal standard for radon testing.
It is advised to place radon test kits away from vents or heat pumps in the lowest living area of the house where occupants spend significant time. Lung Cancer Canada reports that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause in smokers. Individuals who smoke and reside in high radon level homes are at heightened risk of developing lung cancer.
Green stressed that homeowners should not be blamed for high radon levels in their homes, attributing it to the home’s location and how easily gas can seep in.