There is a false belief held by a few people that our Island is exempt from Radon Gas.  Some will point to mapping that shows the Province to have low occurrences and some early studies that gave a false sense of security regarding its prevalence.  Some studies will suggest that only eight % of properties tested above  Health Canada's recommended level of 200 Bq/m3. Only 8% ?  That leaves almost one in ten tested properties with elevated levels.  If one in ten vehicles on the road had faulty brakes, or one out of every ten bridges could potentially collapse it would be all over the media.

The Canadian Lung Associations website states : " Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Radon exposure is estimated to be the cause of 16% of lung cancers. Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer.

If you live in a building with high radon levels or if you spend a lot of time in one, you are at higher risk for lung cancer.

If you smoke and you live in a home with a high level of radon, you are at an even higher risk for lung cancer."

  Radon Gas is a known carcinogen and it is known to exist in our homes and public buildings on PEI, yet it is rarely mentioned in the media.  We choose to look for other cause of our elevated Cancer levels on Prince Edward Island such as pesticides and other factors.  How many of those suggesting we have certain chemicals banned have actually tested their homes or workplaces for Radon ? 

A radon test is simple and inexpensive, so why are people so hesitant to test?  Ideally every single building where people breathe the air for a good portion of their day should be tested.  This includes our schools and workplaces, but a great place to start is your home.

This is a threat that can very easily be reduced.  For some reason we are reluctant to do it, and reluctant to spread the word about the dangers.

Winter is always a bit slower on our Island  Shorter days and longer nights usually mean we spend more time indoors, and our homes are usually sealed tightly against the weather.  It is time enjoyed with family, somewhere safe and warm.  We may also be contributing to a situation none of us would intentionally do.  When we seal our homes against the winter weather we could be allowing dangerous levels of Radon Gas to build up within our homes.  

Winter is the best time to test for Radon Gas.  Health Canada recommends a long term test of more than 90 days be done to avoid false high and low levels.  Radon levels will fluctuate within your home day to day and even hour to hour.

Because Radon Gas comes from Uranium in the soil, it will always be present at some level where Uranium exists.  The only way to protect your family is to test your home.  Many homes have very low levels and may not require any corrective actions.  Some however will have elevated levels and will require some form of mitigation.  Without testing you can't know how safe your home is. 

Testing is easy and inexpensive.  Think of it as peace of mind.  That is priceless !

Sometimes in our busy lives we forget why we do the things we really mean to do.  There are many tasks and things that can distract us from our good intentions.  We know we were wanting to get something done, or that we saw a reminder somewhere, but something else jumped out and became more important at the time.

Having your home tested for Radon can be that sort of thing.  We are aware of the dangers associated with this colourless, odorless gas.  We have seen the warnings and we had every intention of taking that simple, inexpensive step and then life happens.  We move on to something else.

Long term exposure to elevated levels of Radon in your home is a danger to everyone.  The longer you are exposed the more at risk you are.  We owe it to our children and grandchildren to reduce that risk wherever we can.

A simple call, or email right now can start the process.  Whether you choose to do the testing yourself, or to have our Certified professionals test your home for you, the important thing is that you take that step.  Contact us today.  We can explain the simple process. 

  Image by  svklimkin

Our year is winding down here at Radon East, and it has been a very interesting one to say the least! 

We have been busy getting the word out about the dangers of Radon, as well as testing a lot of properties for the gas.  We have also been working hard at getting certification for Radon mitigation, and hope to be offering that service early in the new year. 

We will be away from our office from December 24th until January 04, 2016 but we can always be reached through our website, by email ( glen@radoneast.com ) or by calling 902-393-3886. 

We want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and a prosperous New Year.  We are looking forward to an exciting 2016 !

There is still time to book a Radon test for your home, or to purchase a D.I.Y. kit.  This might be the most important gift you buy this year for your loved ones !  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

The children from the Charlottetown Boys and Girls Club dropped by our office to spread some season cheer.  They were in perfect singing form, and entertained the staff with their great voices, and Christmas smiles.  A big thank you to the children and the staff.  Happy Holidays !

Talking about hazards to our health can be downright depressing at times.  With all the doom and gloom in the media, it sometimes seems like overload to add concerns about silent, unseen gasses being drawn into our homes.  There is an upside to testing your home for Radon however. 

Unlike many other threats we face, Radon gas levels in our home can easily be reduced.  There are also some other benefits than can be achieved when this is done.  While Radon is a major health concern, a radon mitigation system may also reduce other harmful or unwanted substances such as methane from ground sources.  A mitigation system can even help to reduce the moisture/ humidity levels in some homes. 

The first and most important step though is to have your home or workplace tested.  Finding out you already have low levels should leave you smiling.  Knowing that your family is safe will definitely leave you feeling happy !

We live in a world filled with visible hazards and most of us take many precautions to avoid these obvious threats to our health and well being.  Very often we do things to protect ourselves without even realizing it. 

There are also many hidden threats in our lives.  We protect our homes with carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms and take other precautions against hidden dangers.

The threat that Radon can present to our families is very real, and because we can't see or smell the gas, the only way to know if it is present is to test for it.  It is simple to test for and inexpensive but because it is perhaps lesser known than other issues, not enough people are having their homes tested.

Please take some time to learn about radon and tell as many people as you can about what you learn.  This is the time of year to have your home tested.  This might be the greatest give you can give this year.

To learn more about Radon you can visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radon_canadians-canadiens/index-eng.php

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2013-07-05/article-3302798/High-radon-levels-alarm-Prince-Edward-Island-woman,-calls-for-testing/1

One of the most common questions we get is " Is there Radon in Prince Edward Island homes" ?  The simple answer is yes.  There is basically Radon everywhere.  The question is how much?  While there was an attempt to map high radon concentration areas, there is also a consensus that living in any given area does not make you safe.  The levels are dependent on a lot of factors.

This is a story about Radon on PEI and how it may have impacted one family: