Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas produced naturally by the decay of uranium in the earth’s crust. It exists all over the world, although its production and, consequently, its concentration are not uniform. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it gets diluted to low concentrations and is not a concern.

 

 

Radon concentration in water is also highly variable. Drinking water can be obtained from groundwater sources such as springs, wells and boreholes. Groundwater often flows through rock formations which contain natural uranium and radon producing radium. As radon is a water soluble gas, these sources of water normally have much higher concentrations of radon than surface water from rivers, lakes and streams.

 

 

When radon infiltrates an enclosed space, like a house, it can sometimes accumulate to high levels, which can be a risk to the health of you and your family. Because radon is odourless, colourless and tasteless, it cannot be detected by the senses.

 

 

Whether your house is new or old, radon tends to accumulate in the lower and less ventilated rooms, like the basement for example. The gas can seep into the house in a variety of places. The only way to know if you have a radon problem in your home is to measure its concentration.

 

 

The only known risk is long-term development of lung cancer. The level of risk depends on the concentration of radon as well as the number of years of exposure. It is estimated that 10% of all lung-cancer-related deaths in Quebec are linked to radon exposure. Smokers run a much greater risk than non-smokers (including second-hand smoke). In fact, individuals who are exposed to both tobacco smoke and high levels of radon over an extended period of time are more likely to develop lung cancer. The effect is more than additive. Incidentally, 60% of radon-related lung cancer deaths occur among smokers while 30% occur among former smokers. For example, if you smoke your entire life and are exposed to 800 Bq/m3 of radon, your risk of developing cancer is 1 in 3. To date, epidemiological studies have not found an association between radon in drinking water and cancer of the digestive and other systems.

 

 

The only way to know if you have a radon problem in your home is to measure its levels. The marketplace offers a number of measuring devices and services. Testing is safe, simple and relatively inexpensive (approximately $75). Various devices allow you to measure radon concentrations over short periods while others do so over several months. Health Canada recommends measuring radon in your home for at least three (3) months, ideally in winter. The test must be performed in a room occupied more than four (4) hours a day and located on the lowest level, e.g. basement bedroom or recreation room. If the annual average exceeds 200 becquerels per cubic meter of air (200Bq/m3 ), corrective measures should be taken. (A becquerel is a unit of radioactivity equal to one disintegration per second).

 

 

 

 

The best time to measure radon in your home is from October to March because windows

are generally closed and radon concentrations tend to increase inside buildings.

 

 

Survey: Radon Monitoring and Research Program

 

A six-year study of potable groundwater in Chelsea (Pitre et al, 2009) noted that total uranium concentrations in well-water exceeded Health Canada’s maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in 34% of the almost 1000 surveyed wells. As radon gas 222Rn is a product of radioactive decay of uranium, groundwater in uranium rich rocks tends to contain higher levels of radon gas. As such, all other things being equal, groundwater radon concentrations are expected to correlate positively with groundwater uranium concentrations. This, combined with the fact that many residences in the municipality are constructed directly on bedrock, has raised public concerns about radon exposure and associated health risks.

 

The Municipality of Chelsea is relying on its Radon Monitoring and Research Program to collect data concerning radon on its territory. In doing so, this initiative will allow the mapping of radon on its territory, the supply of pertinent information to the municipal decision makers and the creation of a data base allowing scientific research concerning radon.

 

To fill the online survey, please go to : https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/survey_radon

 

You can also complete the paper survey by clicking here.

Please return it to City Hall (100 Old Chelsea Road, Chelsea QC  J9B 1C1), by email  e.paquet@chelsea.ca or fax 819-827-2672.

 

Privacy Statement

 

The Municipality of Chelsea is committed to the protection of the information gathered during this program with safety measures and with the upmost confidentiality, in accordance with La Loi sur l’accès aux documents des organismes publics et sur la protection des renseignements personnels. The Municipality is therefore committed to:

 

o Not selling or exchanging the information collected without a written consent of the owner;
o Not revealing any personal information about users or other personally identifiable data to unaffiliated third parties, except if required to do so by law;
o Limiting the access of identifiable information only to employees who need access in order to perform their assigned duties;
o Collecting, using and retaining the information collected for services related to this program only;
o Using an advanced technology to ensure the security of the personal information included in its database.

 

Survey : Please fill out this survey and return to the Municipality at 100 Old Chelsea Rd.,  m.gauthier@chelsea.ca or fax to 819-827-2672.
 

 

 

 

 

The information contained in this document was adapted from documents published by

the following organisations : Health Canada, the Québec Lung Association, the Ministère

de la Santé et des Services Sociaux du Québec, the Canada Mortgage and Housing

Corporation and the World Health Organisation.