20 | S P A C E S
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
T
o start, an important
first step is to ensure
that radon is not
a problem in your
residence.
Hailey Coleman, health programs
and operations co-ordinator for
The Lung Association of Manitoba,
explains the risks associated with
radon and how to mitigate them.
"Manitoba is a radon hotspot
where one in four homes have high
radon levels, and radon exposure is
the leading cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers. Radon is a colourless,
odourless, radioactive gas created
by uranium's natural decaying soil,
rock and groundwater," she says.
"It enters buildings and homes
where it contacts the ground
and builds up inside our homes
to dangerous levels. Exposure
to high radon levels over a long
period of time increases the risk of
developing lung cancer."
Whether your home is new or old,
it could have high levels of radon
— and the only way to know is to
test for it. The Lung Association
sells radon home testing kits for $65,
which includes two-way shipping,
Canadian-accredited lab analysis,
online test management and email
reminders. These kits can be ordered
through the Lung Association
website at www.mb.lung.ca.
Safety First continued
- Hailey Coleman, health programs
and operations co-ordinator for
The Lung Association of Manitoba
"Manitoba is a radon
hotspot where one in
four homes have high
radon levels, and radon
exposure is the leading
cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers."
