By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Oliver’s 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge is set to begin next week as awareness of this invisible, tasteless, and odourless radioactive gas that is the number one leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers grows.
The challenge, which invites 100 Olivarians to sign up and test their homes for radon, will launch with an information night on Monday, Nov. 25. With this launch date in mind, people are encouraged to sign up beforehand as there are only 100 kits available.
Radon occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. When radon is released into the outdoor air it’s not a concern as it is rapidly diluted. However, radon can concentrate in homes and exposure to radon at home contributes to 90 per cent of Canadians’ radon-induced lung cancer risk.
In the Okanagan 16.1 per cent of homes have what is considered to be high radon levels. A high radon level is defined as being greater than 200 Bq/m³ Health Canada guideline for indoor radon.
“I encourage residents to test for radon in their homes,” Mayor Martin Johansen commented on the town website. “Protecting our health begins at home, and radon testing is a simple, essential step to ensure our families are safe from this invisible risk. Let’s take action together to create a healthier community for all.”
BC Centre for Disease Control radon map shows high concentrations of radon in over 59 per cent of households in Oliver. Osoyoos has insufficient data to estimate.
BC CDC map image
The Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) recommends testing your home for radon at least every three to five years.
The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge is a part of the national initiative Take Action on Radon, which is funded by Health Canada and is partnered with over 40 communities across the country to increase radon awareness.
Other communities in the Okanagan that take part in the challenge are Keremeos, Peachland, and West Kelowna.
The 100 Radon Test Challenge is a free program and Oliver residents can get a free test kit by signing up at the 100 Radon Test Challenge website. You will need to provide your name, email address and phone number to participate. Once registered, participants can pick up their test kit from Nov. 26 until Nov. 29 at Oliver Town Hall.
Following the launch night, kits will be passively monitoring radon levels in homes over the winter before being returned for analysis during collection week: March 10-14, 2025. Then community and household reports will be completed, and community action will follow.
A typical radon test kit.
Wikipedia photo
The launch and info night will take place on Nov. 25 at Community Hall, 6359 Park Drive, Oliver at 7:30 p.m. You can find more information on the local challenge at oliver.ca/radonchallenge. You can also find more information and resources on radon at takeactiononradon.ca/ and visit here for the interactive BC Radon Map by the BC CDC.
