U of C researchers find that new homes in Canada have 467% higher radon gas levels than in Sweden
CALGARY –
A team of researchers at the University of Calgary says that new homes built in Canada have drastically higher radon gas levels than those built in Sweden.
The team, consisting of architects and cancer researchers, used artificial intelligence to analyze long-term radon tests and buildings from more than 25,000 Canadian and 38,000 Swedish residential properties built since World War II.
The researchers found it, on average, radon gas levels in new homes built in Canada were 467 percent higher than those built in Sweden.
“We do not know 100 percent exactly why,” said Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, an associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
The researchers chose to compare Canada with Sweden due to the similar climate and available data dating back decades, a press release explained.
“We looked at a variety of components on how our properties are built; they are both regions with cold climates, they are relatively similar in terms of populations, and yet they have enormously different radon levels,” said Goodarzi.
While Swedish properties in the 1950s had higher radon compared to those built in Canada, the situation changed over the years.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, Canadian and Swedish properties had largely the same radon risks.
But since 1980, radon levels have risen steadily in Canada while falling in Sweden, the team said.
“We know that there are some fundamental differences between the two regions – and the way we heat our properties is actually quite different. On the prairies here, for example, about 94 percent of our houses are heated with forced ventilation and a natural gas stove in the basement,” said Goodarzi.
“That is not what is happening in Sweden. Less than 10 percent of houses in Sweden use that technology. Is that a reason? We do not know.
“One of the important messages is that we almost do not need to know, because we have identified a major problem, and we also know that the lung cancer rate here is higher than there – 163 percent higher here than there. But smoking (prices are) largely seen the same. “
In a press release on Tuesday, the U of C team noted that “inhalation of radioactive radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and has been responsible for approximately 88,000 cases of lung cancer in Canada since 2001.”
Goodarzi explains that radon is dangerous because it emits a type of radiation that we have not developed to cope with.
The long-term hope, Goodarzi said, is to change the 2025 building standard to include proactive radon-reducing systems in all new residential properties built from then on.
“Being able to integrate radon-reducing solutions into the building code will be the key to addressing public health,” said Joshua Taron, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary.
Meanwhile, there are measures that Canadians can take to protect themselves.
“What you can do today is that you can get a radon test,” Goodarzi said. “You can get a kit, you can test your house this winter.”
“What we find is that one in five Canadian houses exceeds 200 Becquerel – that is a measure of radon – that means 200 emissions of that radiation per second per cubic meter of air. If you are on or above it, you should fix your house.
“A radon renovation for limitation through the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (is) a couple of days work in the house – it will be a permanent fix. So you can do something today to save yourself from potentially (getting) that lung cancer diagnosis. “
To buy a radon test, or for more information about radon, you can visit www.evictradon.org.