National Radon Program

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National Radon Program

• Radiation Health Assessment Division
• Radiation Protection Bureau
• CHBA meetings
• October 28, 2011

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RADON KEY MESSAGES

• If the radon level is found to be high, it can be
  fixed easily and at a reasonable cost
• Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced
  naturally by the breakdown of uranium in the
  ground and can get into your home undetected. You
  cant see it, smell it or taste it
• Long-term exposure, especially for smokers, to
  elevated levels of radon in the home increases
  your risk of developing lung cancer
• The only way to know the radon level in your home
  is to take a simple and inexpensive test.
  Long-term testing for a minimum of 3 months is
  recommended.
• Health Canada is encouraging all Canadians
• to test their homes for radon

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1. NATIONAL RADON LABORATORY
National Radon Laboratory

• Equipped with a variety of detection equipment
  (E-Perm, alpha track, continuous radon monitors)
• Provides radon analyses for testing projects and
  research support
• Provides technical expertise and
• advice for radon measurement
• National Building Code
• Certification of Measurement
• and Mitigation Professionals

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National Radon Laboratory

• Launched Federal Building Testing Program over
  8000 buildings tested to date 5.5 of results
  above the guideline
• Launched cross Canada residential radon testing
  project 14,000 homes tested
• 93 (112 of 121) of the Health Regions that
  participated had homes that tested above the
  Canadian guideline
• 7 of Canadian homes exceed the guideline level
• New 2010 National Building Codes for protection
  against radon
• Development of a Canadian Certification Program

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Year 1 Results Population Weighted Homes gt200
Bq/m3
Cross-Canada Residential Radon Survey
AB 6.9
BC 4.6
MB 23.5
NB 17.0
NL 5.3
NS 8.2
NT 4.0
NU 0.0
ON 4.9
PE 4.5
QC 9.0
SK 15.8
YT 15.9
Year 2 Data analysis is in progress, results
appear similar Data analysis and report/papers
will be written this fall/winter, to be published
when approved
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Mitigation Guide-Highlights

• The guide has been written for professional
  contractors and includes
• An Overview of Radon
• Confirming the Radon Test was Carried Out
  Properly
• An Overview of Radon Reduction Systems
• Ventilation Methods and Sealing
• Exposed Soil.
• Sub-Slab Depressurisation
• Sump and Drainage System Depressurization
• Fan and pipe installation
• Building codes and radon mitigation
• Post installation testing
• Safety precautions

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Where Does Radon Come From?
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How Does Radon Enter Houses?

• The rate at which soil gas enters a building
  depends on
• resistance of the soil to gas movement- soil type
  and structure, soil moisture, and freezing
• foundation design and construction
• the pressure differences between the house and
  the soil.
• The radon supply rate (Bq/h) depends on the soil
  gas entry rate and the radon concentration in the
  soil gas. This is typically 40 to 80 kBq/m3, so a
  flow of 1 m3/hour can produce concentrations of
  gt200 Bq/m3 in a house.

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Entry Routes
Block Walls
Poured Concrete Basement
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Mitigation Methods

• The radon concentration in living spaces can be
  reduced by
• increasing the ventilation rate in the living
  space or adjacent spaces to dilute the radon as
  it enters.
• changing the internal air circulation patterns to
  intercept air containing radon before it enters
  the living space, and diverting it to the
  outdoors.
• by decreasing the flow of soil gas into the house
  through the foundation. This can be done by
• -closing openings through the foundation to the
  soil
• -decreasing the pressure in the soil beneath
  the building or beneath a membrane so that soil
  gas no longer flows from the soil into the
  building. Active Sub-Slab Depressurization (ASD)
  and variations-crawl space, block wall, tile
  drain/sump

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Mitigation Steps

• 1- Confirm the initial radon test(s) were carried
  out properly
• 2- Investigate the house to decide what
  mitigation system is needed
• 3- Determine feasibility of proposed system and
  design (diagnostics)
• 4- Installation
• 5- Post-mitigation measurement.

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Designing a SSD System
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Canadian Certification Program

• History
• Implementation of the new radon guideline and
  increased public awareness of the risks from
  radon exposure created a need to develop
  nationally recognised standards for knowledge and
  proficiency assessment of radon measurement and
  mitigation services and products in Canada.
• Health Canada considered two options for
  development of a Certification program-a
  government operated program or a program operated
  by private industry with guidance from the
  federal government. Based on cost and time
  needed for a federally operated program, the
  second option was pursued.
• NEHA-NRPPs existing program has a good
  infrastructure already in place - Canadian
  certification will differ where required

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Canadian Certification Program

• Status
• Agreement between NEHA,AARST Health Canada has
  been formalised
• All parties working to finalize all of the
  components required to launch the new Canadian
  NEHA-NRPP program
• Health Canadas role in this process - provide
  support and guidance in the development of the
  training curriculum and Canadian certification
  exams to ensure both are in accordance with
  Canadian guidance and protocols.
• Expected to launch in early spring 2012

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5 Components of the Program
Canadian Certification Program - Structure
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Role of Health Canada
Canadian Certification Program

• Collaboration with the U.S certification body,
  NEHA-NRPP to establish Canadian component of the
  program
• Training curriculum development and Canadian
  specific exams for measurement and mitigation to
  ensure accordance with Health Canada's radon
  guideline and protocols
• Responsible for translation of program materials
  into French
• Assist NEHA-NRPP with competency assessment of
  radon measurement professionals by providing
  QA/QC oversight
• Canadian certification will not be administered
  by Health Canada -NEHA-NRPP will act as the
  credentialing body, providing all program
  management services in accordance with their
  Program procedures

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Canadian Certification Program

• Key features of the Canadian Certification
  Program
• Differences in the measurement units Bq/m3 vs.
  pCi/L
• Long term testing recommended
• Competency assessment of Measurement
  professionals through a QA/QC Program
• New Bilingual Canadian Exams for Measurement and
  Mitigation
• Not tied to real estate transactions
• Differences based on Canadian geology and climate
• Distance Learning will be important as well-CERTI
• In Canada - Currently 70 measurement and 40
  mitigation professionals NEHA-NRPP certified
• We need more course providers in Canada-possible
  partners include HRAI, ACCC, and Climate Care

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Radon Education and Awareness
Performance Indicators Progress to date
Increased radon awareness 20 stakeholder engagements /yr 50 increase in web traffic 100 increase in inquiries/yr National outreach campaigns social media and traditional
information products developed 9 products developed since 2008 350,000 brochures distributed
Radon Measurement and Mitigation availability Test kit availability in Canadian national home improvement stores NGOs Significant increase in certified radon measurement and mitigation professionals (70 40)
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Newest Radon outreach product
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Radon Education and Awareness
EA Goals and indicators Progress to date
National Radon Outreach Campaign Environmental Health campaign launched in March 2010 CLA national social media campaign National outreach to health professionals Radon pro-active media campaign in fall / winter Provincial focused outreach in fall /winter across Canada
Stakeholder engagement and partnership Strong partnerships with NGOs CLA, CCS, CMA and CHBA and Radon service industry Improved engagement with OGDs and provinces, municipalities
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2011 and Beyond Next Steps
2011 and Beyond Next Steps

• National Radon Laboratory
• Collaborate with stakeholders and partners to
  encourage the adoption of the revised building
  codes across the country
• Successful launch and implementation of the
  Canadian certification program
• Radon Test Projects
• Completion of the federal building testing
  project in 2012/13
• Radon Mapping
• Work with provinces to provide modeling concept
  and encourage development of provincial mapping

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2011 and Beyond Next Steps
2011 and Beyond Next Steps

• Radon Research
• Complete research project on large building radon
  remediation and develop guidance documents
• Compare ground level and roof level discharge
• Investigate at on-demand ventilation fans for ASD
  
• Would like to collaborate with CHBA to build some
  new homes incorporating the 2010 NBC changes soon
• Education and Awareness
• Continue to build on activities that have been
  most successful with partners CLA, CMA, CCS,
  CHBA
• Target activities to those most at risk
• Focused activities around NBC revisions and
  Canadian Certification program
• Homeowner outreach via Canada Posts Smartmoves
  program