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Castlegar residents at radon risk

by Kyra Hoggan on 03 Mar 2010
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Castlegar residents at radon risk

Is radon gas putting you or your family at risk of lung cancer?


That's the question Dana Schmidt is trying to get all Castlegar residents to ask, as he continues to promote radon-gas testing in this, the second-worst radon hot-spot in the province.


Schmidt told city council, at its regular meeting Monday night, that he has distributed more than 450 radon-gas detectors in the past year, of which 280 have been returned. The detectors, which he provides free-of-charge, measure radon levels over the course of 90 to 120 days, and the results to date will likely be startling to some.


“In more than 20 to 25 of the detectors returned, the values were so high the detectors couldn't get an accurate reading,” he said. “They're the kinds of values associated with working in unranium mines.”


He said roughly 83 per cent of Castlegar homes are above the level at which the US Environmental Protection Agency says to, “consider action”, and 48 per cent have radon levels above the Canadian standard of 200Bq/m3.


Schmidt called on council to alter new building construction requirements to include radon venting, which he said would cost about $500 per home, while retro-fitting would take a couple of days and cost about $2,500 through a contractor.


Either way, he said, it's a quick, easy fix – especially when you understand the consequences of not bothering.


“It became apparent to me, after the death of my wife (of radon-related lung cancer), that Castlegar has a significant radon problem,” he said, adding radon gas is second only to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer. “It's more deadly than not fastening your seatbelts, and more people will die (of radon-related lung cancer) than of breast cancer.


“I don't think people realize how serious the risk really is.”


He said you can't see or smell radon gas, and there's no way to gauge by neighborhood or house-age whether you're at higher risk, but radon levels are easy to measure with the detectors Schmidt is loaning out for free through either City Hall or Golder Associates here in town.


He said he hopes to secure funding to help those unable to pay for retro-fitting – and in the interim, he hopes to see council regulate new construction such that retrofits ultimately become unneccessary, as has alreay been done in hot-spot communities in the US state of Washington.

Council unanimously referred the recommendation to the city planning and development department for evaluation.


For more information or to get a radon detector for your own home, call Schmidt at 250-365-0344 or City Hall at 250-365-7227, or email dschmidt@golder.com

 

Comments

Community owes Debt of Gratitude to Dana Schmidt

by rgkbc on 03 Mar 2010 at about 20:29.
While we are searching in the Community for 'Local Hero's', let us not overlook the remarkable contribution of Mr. Dana Smith. Motivated by the tragic loss of his Life Partner to a disease that, in all likelyhood, SHOULD NOT have happened, Mr. Smith has mustered support from his Business Partners and Friends in Rotary, to bring into the Public's awareness the particular dangers that Castlegar's naturally occuring levels of radon gas are generating. And why we might ask has it taken Castlegar City Council, so long to address this concern as a legitmate issue? In 2005, Council was asked by Citizens to look into the reports of the remarkably coincindental occurences of high radon emissions and anomylous cancer cases. These Public Questions were met with condecension & ridicule by at least three members of the Council of the day, two of whom remain on Council today. Comments included remarks to the effect that: "The issues were well known and that all appropriate actions had been taken." ... "That this was not an Issue for the City but rather a concern for Interior Health", 'That from 'personal experience' ( one councillor) knew that the risks were being 'overstated'." "That the issue was not a Municipal concern... but rather a Provincial of Federal Concern." "That the current building code was adequate." "That if this information 'got out' it would affect the City's development prospects'... and that more stringent building codes would increase the cost of new construction and deter Developers." In August, of 2007, a very extensive report arrived in Council's Correspondence from the Nuclear Free Kootenay-Boundary organization, lncluding both research and analysis of some of the uranium/radon concerns as well as steps that could be undertaken bythe Municiapality to address the issues. At that meeting , the correspondence relating to uranium/radon and its possible harmful effects as well as approximately 30 other Items of Corresponsdence were filled for information by 5 of the current sitting Members of City Council. Not one item, brought forward by the Residents, at the August 2007 meeting was considered in the Public. A year ago this coming May, I was diagnosed with a potentially terminal cancer, commonly found in persons who smoke. But I have lived in Castlegar for 5 1/2 years. I have never been a smoker. Was Castlegar's particular relationship with Uranium & Radon gas a factor? Who knows? Does the city of Castlegar have a responsibility to lead the fight for the Health, Safety & Well-being of its Residents? Defintely. Read the Municipal Charter. Should the City have issued Bulletins regarding Resident's obligations to take responsibilty for this Public Safety Issue. It might have saved some lives. Should City Council be more responsive to the concerns of the Residents, Citizens & Taxpayers? You bet. Does Castlegar need more people like Dana Schmidt, who will stand up, be counted and fight 'for the right things to be done' in the Community? Absolutely! Can we as a Community afford to walk away from City Council, three years at a time, and let them 'do their thing unmonitored? Absolutely, Not! Dear Friends and Neighbours, It's Budget time. Let City Council know what YOU think is important in the Community! Read, write, question, discuss the Cities proposals for Action. Especially in an world were there are 'no win' issues all around us, the City Council NEEDS to hear what you want in terms of Programs, Services & Taxes. We need more folks like Dana Schmidt, who rise above their own personal tragedies & daily lives , to search out ways to build solutions for the Community. City Council had their chance with this one years ago ... and blew it! Raymond Koehler, 619 - 9th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1M5 250.304.2157