Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (04/02/2020) – RADON STUDY UPDATE. Further to the information provided in the media release below, please note that HPEPH’s radon study has ended. Results are being reviewed and a report is being prepared. Stay tuned for future updates.
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (18/11/2019) – Local residents still have the opportunity to qualify for a free radon test and measure the amount of radon present in their homes.
Earlier this month, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) launched a study to learn more about local radon levels. Study participants will receive a free radon test. Homeowners who are interested in participating in the study can apply at hpePublicHealth.ca/radon. The deadline to apply has been extended until midnight on November 21st, or while quantities last.
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium found in rocks and soils. You can’t see, taste or smell radon. It can enter buildings through cracks in foundation floors and walls, gaps in pipes, open floor drains, or any other area of exposed soil. In confined spaces like a home, radon can build up to high levels becoming a health risk. The likelihood of high radon levels cannot be predicted by the age or location of a home, and all homes are at risk.
“We are pleased that many homeowners have applied to participate in this study and will be able to learn more about the radon levels in their home” says Andrew Landy, Interim Manager Healthy Environments at HPEPH. “We want to ensure all interested individuals have the opportunity to apply.”
“Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer,” says Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH. “We know that long term exposure to radon is a health risk, and the only way to know if there is radon in your home is to test for it.”
To ensure representation from across our region, homeowners interested in participating in the radon study will be required to complete a survey application. Survey applications are available online at hpepublichealth.ca/radon until end of day on November 21, 2019.
For more information about radon, visit hpePublicHealth.ca/radon.
-30-
Media Contact:
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
613-966-5500 x 464 or 613-966-9418
etubbs@hpeph.ca
