Early results
Prior to launching the survey, approved by the University of Calgary's conjoint health research ethics board, Goodarzi and his team conducted a preliminary study involving 100 homes.
He said the results showed that the pandemic, thus far, has led to a 35 per cent increase in the annual residential radon exposure for that test group.
"Whether the 35 per cent increase remains true remains to be seen, but so far, yeah, it looks like a one-third increase in our net radon exposure, which is substantial," said Goodarzi.
Goodarzi said radon exposure is more concerning if it's happening over many years, not a few months. Children and young people are more at risk.
The Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air is 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3).
Goodarzi said they've clocked levels as high as 11,000 Bcq in Regina.
"And if you're in that house and working from home, you need to know about it and do something about it," said Goodarzi.
Serious but fixable
Goodarzi said radon is serious but fixable.
For example, he said people can install a sub-slab depressurization, wherein a little hole is drilled through the foundation into the soil underneath. An airtight fan then vents the radon up and outside.
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