Health Canada’s National Health Canada’s National Radon ProgramRadon Program

Kelley Bush/Jeff Whyte May 28 2010 11:30 AM

Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Technical Research Committee

Radon is a gas that is produced naturally by the breakdown of uranium in the ground and can get into your home undetected. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it.

Long-term exposure, especially for smokers, to elevated levels of radon in the home increases your risk of developing lung cancer.

The only way to know the radon level in your home is to take a simple and inexpensive test. Long term testing for a minimum of 3 months is recommended.

Health Canada is encouraging all Canadians to test their homes for radon

RADON KEY MESSAGES

Homes should be tested using a long-term test device for a minimum of 3 months, ideally in the fall and winter timeframe.

The current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air is 200 Bq/m3

If the radon level is found to be high, it can be fixed.

Protecting your family’s health from the risk of radon exposure starts with learning more (or alternatively starts with testing).

RADON KEY MESSAGES

RADON EXPOSURE RISK COMPARISON

*All accidental deaths includes motor vehicle accidents, drownings, falls, fires and more

Why 3 -12 months?Radon levels fluctuate between day and night, from one week to the next, from one season to the next and from one year to the next. Short-term fluctuations of 5-10 fold are not uncommon.

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10/13 10/20 10/27 11/3 11/10 Date

R a d o n C o n c e n t r a t I o n (Bq/ m3)

THE NATIONAL RADON THE NATIONAL RADON PROGRAMPROGRAM

NATIONAL RADON PROGRAM

1. National Radon Laboratory

2. Radon Testing Projects

3. Database and Mapping

4. Radon Research

5. Education and Public Awareness

1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY

Equipped with a variety of detection equipment (E-Perm, alpha track, continuous radon monitors)

Provides Rn analyses for testing projects and research support

Provides technical expertise and advice for Rn measurement National Building Code Certification of Measurement and Mitigation Professionals

2010 National Building Code (NBC)

Joint task group was formed focused on Protection against Radon Ingress – HC was a member

Tasked to review current Rn requirements, and recommend changes for 2010 version of NBC

Task group recommendation – for ALL new homes in Canada

Gravel aggregate and vapor barrier under the slab and rough-in for active sub-slab depressurization

Status : Changes to appear in the 2010 version of NBC to be released in early 2011

1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY

Canadian Certification Program

Health Canada currently recognizes the credentials from NEHA-NRPP and NRSB

Canada’s certification program is being developed in partnership with NEHA, NRSB and the Standards Council of Canada

Progress to date: Canadian measurement and mitigation exams completed Course curriculum for measurement and mitigation is in

development Have begun engagement with Canadian training

organizations to encourage course development and availability

1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY

Canadian Certification Program

Canada’s program will differ in: Units of measurement Bq/m3 vs pCi/L Long term testing recommended Not tied to real estate transactions Differences based on Canadian geology and climate QA/QC plans required from Measurement professionals More frequent proficiency testing (annual) Measurement labs will require higher levels of lab accreditation Pre- and post-mitigation results will be harvested from Mitigation

professionals as a metric for demonstrating ongoing competence

Health Canada will offer a grandfathering period for those certified through NEHA-NRPP and NRSB

1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY

Radon Mitigation Guide Health Canada in partnership with international

stakeholders has completed a final draft of a radon mitigation guide

Members of the review committee included representation from EPA, AARST, CMHC, Public Health Services, provincial housing, renovations / plumbing industry and academia

Internal approval process will begin next month. The final guide should be completed and available on

the HC website late summer / early fall.

1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY

Federal building testing

Tested approximately 2300 buildings to-date Most are fairly simple buildings (1-3 storey) To date radon levels in high rises have been low - no

evidence of a stack effect can be seen yet 9% of buildings tested have been >200 Bq/m3, almost

all are 1-2 storey house-type buildings in radon rich areas

No high rise (5 or more floors) with a building average >200 Bq/m3 to-date

2. RADON TESTING PROJECTS

Cross-Canada residential radon survey

Recruit 18,000 homes across Canada over a 2 year period 3-month test during the fall/winter heating season Year 1 is almost complete, recruitment for year 2 begins this

summer

Contractor’s Role: Participant recruitment and follow up Analysis of questionnaire results and reporting

Health Canada’s Role Mail out Rn test kit and instructions, and provide

analysis/results to homeowners

2. RADON TESTING PROJECTS

Cross-Canada residential radon survey

For year 1 we expect to achieve a return rate of around 75%

Radon is being found in areas previously known as radon-rich, and in many other areas not previously surveyed

A year 1 summary report will be made available over the next few months, and final report will be completed after year 2

Information will be based on geographic areas (provinces/territories and/or Health Regions), and will show % homes above 200 Bq/m3 and % homes above 600 Bq/m3

2. RADON TESTING PROJECTS

Radon maps will be based on a variety of data: ground-based uranium from aerial surveys, radon in soil, soil permeability,

soil geochemistry, geology and indoor radon concentrations

Aerial surveys continue this year in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan

More soil gas testing in a few large urban centres

Maps to be used by government to: more effectively inform Canadians prioritize outreach and education efforts Encourage testing and remediation, where necessary

Map will not be published – can lead to misinterpretation Should not be used as a tool to decide about testing All Canadians should test their home

3. Rn DATABASE & MAPPING

New potential measurement techniques Ex. Solid state Rn detector (silicon chip) Use of Pb-210 in dust to determine exposure levels

More effective radon absorbents for mitigation Exhalation of radon from building materials

• Assessed that granite represents a verysmall contribution to overall radon levelsin most homes

Possibility of other radon surveys in conjunction with various organizations or

stakeholders

4. RADON RESEARCH

E&A - PROGRESS TO-DATE Extensive stakeholder engagement and partnership development

New co-branded radon factsheet Testing products available in retailers New radon web pages- 88% increase in

web traffic in 2009 Earned media campaign launched fall 2009 Regionally focused outreach programs via

NGOs Environmental Health Guide campaign –

radon will be a highlighted issue 100%+ increase in public inquiries in 2009

5. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

2010-2011 E&A ACTIVITIES

Outreach via NGOs Outreach via Health professionals Outreach via retailers – brochure distribution,

advertisements, POP Participation in conferences, workshops, and events

across Canada Development of a Stakeholder information Kit Targeted mailer to health professionals in

partnership with the Canadian Medical Association

5. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS