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COTR to offer radon measurement and mitigation training

The Canadian Cancer Society and the College of the Rockies are partnering up to host a radon measurement and mitigation training course.

The Canadian Cancer Society and the College of the Rockies are partnering up to host an integrated course that will provide radon measurement and mitigation training. The five-day certification course will run this October and is designed for building professionals, home inspectors and aspiring construction and renovation workers.

A recent Health Canada survey showed naturally high radon levels in both the East and West Kootenays. There are currently no certified mitigation professionals in the East Kootenays.

“This is the first course of its kind to be offered in the East Kootenays,” said Jenny Byford, health promotion coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society. “It's really going to help the area so that there are trained professionals locally who can provide mitigation to homes that do have levels that are high. The homeowner will have an option that is local and they don't have to be hiring someone from out of the province or as far away as Vancouver.”

Radon is a radioactive gas naturally emitted from the earth through the breakdown of uranium in soil, and it enters your home by seeping in through cracks, pipes, windows and the foundation. The odourless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada and it is estimated that radon kills 3,000 Canadians every year.

“The higher levels that you're exposed to for long periods of time can increase your risk for developing lung cancer,” explained Byford. “Radon accounts for about 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths and it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.”

The course will include a mixture of theory and hands-on training to both measure and mitigate radon in Canada. Once the training is complete, participants will be prepared to write the National Radon Proficiency Program's Certification Exam to become qualified radon testing and mitigation providers.

The radon mitigation course is schedule to run October 20 to 24, but it is dependent on participant interest. Anyone interested in registering can contact Jenny Byford at 250-426-8916 or jbyford@bc.cancer.ca.