When Castlegar native, Joan Blain, first heard about the BC Lung Association’s Home Radon Testing Study, she jumped at the opportunity to take part.

Unlike most British Columbians, Blain had heard about radon. She knew it was a leading cause of lung cancer and that Castlegar was known to have elevated levels. So she suspected there was a good chance her home may test above the Health Canada safety guidelines of 200 Bq/m3.

“I was right,” explained Blain. “The level of radon in my home was 600 Bq/m3 – three times the health guideline. When I found out I wasted no time getting in contact with local contractors who connected me with a Certified Radon Mitigation Professional.”

The installation of a radon mitigation (specialized venting) system costs between $500 and $3,000.

Blain believes the expense is well worth it for peace of mind, “Once the system was installed and working I immediately felt relieved and confident I was doing the right thing by taking steps to minimize my family’s risk of lung cancer.”

“Within days after my radon system was installed a short-term test confirmed my home’s radon levels had already dropped below Health Canada’s safety guideline of 200 Bq/m3,” said Blain. “And as Paul Muntak suggests, I’ll do a longer term test in a few months just to be sure the mitigation system continues to work effectively.”

On average, more Canadians are estimated to die every year from radon-induced lung cancer than deaths by vehicle accidents, fire exposure, and drowning combined.